The city’s Energy and Environment Committee is crafting a strategic plan to make Concord operate on 100% renewable energy by 2050 and is asking for the public’s input.
The committee was charged with developing a plan after the city council passed a resolution in July setting a goal for the city to operate completely on renewable energy.
The first of three public input sessions is scheduled for Wednesday night from 6 to 8 at the City Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road in Concord.
The plan aims to set Concord on course for using electricity only from renewable sources by 2030. The plan then calls to have all transportation and thermal energy be renewably sourced by 2050.
A first draft of the committee’s advisory report is available on the city’s website at concordnh.gov.
Before passing the city council’s vote, an earlier version of the resolution identified the goal as a “policy” that would be implemented by city administrators. The mandate was later removed and the responsibility to develop a plan was given to the Energy and Environment Committee. The revised resolution also stated the plan is purely aspirational.
The committee says more than 50 cities across the country have already converted to using 100% renewable energy.
“We believe that this commitment will attract green businesses and other businesses to Concord, and will make a positive statement that Concord is a city that believes in itself, is moving forward and is a great place to live,” the committee wrote in its report.
The second public input session is May 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Penacook Community Center, 76 Community Drive. The final session is May 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 37 Green St., in Concord.