Overview
The climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, posing immediate risks to individuals and commerce while straining infrastructure, emergency and social services, and impacting access to food and water. While southeastern Pennsylvania has fared better than many places, we are not escaping these impacts as so-called “extreme weather events” are becoming increasingly common in our region as well. Warrington is experiencing higher, often record-breaking temperatures on a consistent basis. Tornado warnings, and actual tornados, have become a regular occurrence that we need to deal with. Unlike the western half of the country where this is contributing to extreme drought conditions, here we are experiencing substantial rains which create more stormwater and flooding conditions. In September of last year tropical storm Ida, in addition to spawning tornados that just missed the township, dropped four to ten inches of rain throughout Bucks County. Bradford Dam was breached that night with the water height of the reservoir area rising halfway up the trees surrounding the creek bank and flooding the meadow just short of the berm.
Ida was a mega event, but we have had lesser storms that dropped an inch or more of rain in an hour as they passed through. Such storms tend to create a great deal of stormwater and often lead to dangerous flash flooding. Stormwater creates problems of its own as runoff washes over lands and fields, its momentum brings along sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, nutrients or other contaminants and deposits them elsewhere. Runoff washes pollutants into water sources which can diminish water quality, threaten drinking water sources, and water treatment processes.
How did we get where we are? Increases in air pollutants such as carbon dioxide are changing our weather patterns making them more extreme. Rising temperatures produced more rain. More rain gave rise to more flooding. Over the past 50 years, the township’s growth has led to a tremendous amount of development. Topsoil was disturbed. Trees were removed, and houses and shopping centers were built. All these factors increased stormwater runoff. The American Lung Association annually grades each county in the state. This annual review graded 4 counties in PA an F for Air Quality. Bucks was one of the 4. Also included was Phila, Montgomery and Allegheny, but Bucks and Phila were low F’s. (Bucks – 24 Orange days, 3 Red)
To address these issues the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on August 24, 2021, passed a Clean Energy Resolution. The goal of this resolution is to approve a transition to 100% clean and renewable energy and will set goals to complete this transition in the electricity sector by 2035 and in all energy sectors, including heat and transportation, by 2050.
The BOS established a technical team comprised of the Environmental Advisory Council in cooperation with the Planning Commission, Township professional staff, along with the general public to develop an Action Plan. The Action plan will outline steps that the Township as well as residents can take to reduce energy use, reduce carbon emissions and waste, and become energy independent via the use of clean, renewable energy. The process will include regular updates to the BOS and to all pertinent Township committees. Community engagement is occurring throughout the process via in-person/virtual committee meetings, and online surveys. A link to the survey can be found here.
The drafting of this plan is to be completed within 24 months of the resolution date, no later than August 24, 2023, and will include interim milestones, financial impacts, equity metrics and potential financing mechanisms. (A copy of the draft plan can be found here).
The Board of Supervisors along with our technical team is encouraging all Warrington residents to participate in the planning and implementation process. For more information contact the EAC at [email protected].