Riverside unveils comprehensive Climate Action and Resilience Plan led by consultant Melanie Nutter

The Village of Riverside Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on March 20, 2025, where significant discussions centered around the presentation of the draft Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Assistant Manager Ashley Monroe introduced the plan, highlighting its development over the past two years and the involvement of community volunteers through the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4).

Consultant Melanie Nutter from Nutter Consulting presented the plan, which is a comprehensive 70-page document detailing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance community resilience. The plan includes a climate risk assessment specific to Riverside, identifying lower risks for drought and severe winter weather, but higher risks for thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The greenhouse gas emission inventory revealed that the majority of emissions stem from buildings, particularly from natural gas and electricity use, followed by gasoline from passenger vehicles. The plan outlines 45 strategies and 127 actions across various sectors, including efficient buildings, clean transportation, and waste reduction.

Nutter emphasized the importance of prioritizing actions based on greenhouse gas reduction potential, cost, and community support. The board will receive a feedback form to provide input on the draft, which will be refined into a public review version before implementation begins.

Following the climate plan discussion, the meeting transitioned to continued discussions on revisions to the village's noise ordinance, indicating ongoing efforts to address community concerns. No immediate actions were required from the board regarding the climate plan, allowing for further review and feedback in the coming weeks.