With grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Allegheny College environmental science professor Jennifer DeHart and a group of environmental studies students have begun a two-part project to help the City of Meadville reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
“This project not only serves the city well, promising to make Meadville the first municipality in the region to have a professionally developed greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan, but it will also provide students with real-world, hands-on experience, a major component of Allegheny’s well-regarded environmental science department pedagogy,” said DeHart.
“Beyond that,” she said, “by participating in such a meaningful community-based research and service learning project, these students will undoubtedly develop a stronger connection to the Meadville community.”
“The city is fortunate to have an institution like Allegheny located here,” said Meadville City Manager Joe Chriest. “We can build upon the expertise Jennifer DeHart has gained on similar projects and use it to our benefit. We have also joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives to provide the tools necessary to complete the inventory and to see what other cities around the world are doing.”
What will happen
Part one of the project, which began this month, involves completing a greenhouse gas inventory, including the development of emissions projections for the city. In part two, DeHart will work with stakeholders in the community to develop a climate action plan, which will help the city move toward a mutually agreed upon emission reduction target.
Andrew Pfeifer, a senior from Wyckoff, N.J., with a major in environmental science and minor in German; Brendan O’Leary, a junior from Birmingham, Mich., with a double major in environmental science and environmental geology and a minor in religious studies; and Sam Elliot, a junior from Henrietta, N.Y., with an environmental science major and English minor, will work with Chriest and DeHart to complete a baseline inventory of such contributors to greenhouse gas emissions as vehicle emissions, waste water, solid waste, natural gas, electricity and refrigerants.
“Our intention is to create an inventory that is comprehensive, covering to the greatest extent possible all of the energy expended by the City of Meadville,” said Pfeifer.
The second part of the project, developing an emissions reduction target and climate action plan, will take place in concert with the inventory work.
“As we begin to see some of the numbers and get a sense of where the most easily achieved energy savings can occur, both at the municipal level and community wide, we’ll work with area stakeholders to start to create consensus with respect to goals and strategies,” DeHart said. “Putting it all together, from inventory data and goals to strategies and tactics, into a climate action plan that engages our citizens in creating effective solutions is the ultimate objective of the project.”
Individuals or organizations that would like to become involved in developing Meadville’s climate action plan should contact DeHart at jennifer.dehart@allegheny.edu.
DeHart has collaborated and directed similar projects on a variety of scales including institutions (Allegheny College), multiple counties (the Global Change in Local Places NASA research project) and states (North Carolina). In her past work she has collaborated with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives support staff and used the council’s software for inventorying, projections and modeling mitigation strategies. Since 2001, DeHart has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) energy and climate committee.
Local News
NEW LOCAL: College-city team awarded grant to help reduce greenhouse gas
- Local News
-
-
Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year
With its 50th year in business under way — and business continuing to boom — a local high-tech tooling and plastic parts manufacturer appears at the ready for an even higher-tech future.
-
Cochranton Carl says winter will be done soon
So here’s the deal. Some groundhogs — animals christened Marmota monax by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1758 and also known colloquially as woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers — are remarkably high maintenance.
-
City council hears what applicants have to offer
Seven applicants for the vacant seat on Meadville City Council interviewed with council members during an extended public session. Council members have 30 days to select a replacement for Chandler Mason, who won a place on the November ballot in the May primary, won again in November, and then opted to not take the seat.
-
Second interviews set for two council hopefuls
Nine applications were received, seven applicants were interviewed and two have been asked to return for a second round of talks as the search for Meadville City Council’s tie-breaking fifth member swings into high gear.
-
Next stop Carnegie Hall for Maplewood singer
Michael Miller stands alone on the stage of Ford Chapel on the campus of Allegheny College. He draws in a breath, opens his mouth and, with no visible effort, fills the entire room with the sound of his voice.
-
Scholarships helping women get back in the classroom
“As long back as I can remember, there’s been this little voice inside me that says, ‘You can do more,’ ” Vanessa Shaffer recalled. “I’d done a brilliant job in ignoring that voice — and I was ready to give it an ear.”
-
Plan unveiled that could save more than $20 million
A citizens’ advisory committee recommends Crawford County split almost all of its courthouse functions among two sites — the former Talon Inc. Plant No. 5 on upper Arch Street and the present Crawford County Courthouse in downtown Meadville — and at a 40 percent lower cost than previously anticipated.
-
Cochranton Carl now on Facebook and ready to forecast
As the annual Groundhog Day gets near, one local weather-watching critter is starting to cause a stir on Facebook.
-
DA: Argument shows accused killer's ill will
A verbal argument related to a drug store robbery is what Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz alleges led a Linesville man to murder a Linesville-area couple almost two years ago.
-
Accident closes Route 322 in western Crawford County
Route 322 is closed from West State Road/Turnersville Road in West Shenango Township to Water Street in Jamestown Borough, Mercer County, due to an accident that downed utility lines at County Line Road in Jamestown. The road is expected to reopen by noon today, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
