PORTLAND — Over the past five years, Portland and South Portland have made significant strides in their One Climate Future Plan. This plan focuses on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability.
Troy Moon, Portland’s sustainability director, highlighted key changes like the growing number of electric car chargers and solar panels. The aim is to switch to clean electric power wherever possible. The city is actively installing electric vehicle charging stations in major neighborhoods to encourage residents to drive electric cars.
Currently, Portland has 44 charging stations, while South Portland has six. People can pay for charging using a credit card or an app, making it convenient.
Additionally, the cities have set up solar arrays at various locations, such as the Ocean Avenue landfill and the airport parking deck. These installations have significantly cut down electricity costs, saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
New building codes are part of the upgrades as well, ensuring that new constructions are more energy-efficient and resilient to flooding.
Since launching the plan, both cities have implemented over 70% of the proposed changes, thanks to 32 grants totaling more than $5 million. Moon expressed hope that public awareness will grow and that the carbon footprint will decrease even further.
Making the switch to electric vehicles could have a huge impact. A report from the International Energy Agency states that electric cars could make up 30% of all vehicles by 2030, which could dramatically reduce pollution.
Cities around the world are watching Portland and South Portland closely. Their journey may provide a blueprint for other areas looking to become more sustainable.
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