City staff outline CAP progress; consultants hired to explore solar at 800 Magador brownfield
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Summary
The city's sustainability coordinator gave an implementation update on the April 2023 Climate Action Plan, including EPA Portfolio Manager benchmarking, new EV chargers at City Hall, trail connector completion and plans to explore a public‑private solar array at the 800 Magador brownfield through hired consultants.
Julie Morris, the city’s sustainability coordinator, briefed the council on Oct. 1, 2025, about implementation of Kent’s 2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP) and highlighted early projects including facility benchmarking, EV chargers, trail improvements and exploratory work on a solar array sited at a brownfield.
Morris said the city hired civil and environmental consultants to “provide professional services associated with the design, installation, and implementation options for the array” and to advise on financing and funding pathways for a public‑private solar project at the 800 Magador brownfield site. “We are moving forward with exploring a solar project that will be sited at the 800 Magador Brownfield site,” she said.
Staff reported progress on the CAP’s prioritized sectors: stationary energy and transportation. The city has enrolled a portfolio of municipal facilities in the U.S. EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager to track energy use and emissions (baseline year 2023). City Hall will be added to the portfolio once a full year of utility bills is available. Morris said the city is also tracking building‑level metrics that will help identify energy‑efficiency opportunities.
On transportation, staff noted a recently completed trail connector that links the Freedom Trail with a bike path and said the city submitted a renewal application to the League of American Bicyclists for an updated bicycle‑friendly community rating (survey closes Oct. 5). The city has installed dual‑port Level 2 EV chargers at City Hall; Morris said the chargers have already avoided about 508 kilograms of greenhouse gases, “like planting 13 trees and letting them grow for 10 years.”
Education and outreach activities for October sustainability month include tabling at the Haymakers Farmers Market and a “Lights Out” event at Plum Creek Park focused on bird migration and light pollution. The Sustainability Commission is coordinating events and working on bylaw and ordinance alignment with the CAP.
Why it matters: staff framed these early actions as foundational steps to reduce municipal emissions, demonstrate best practices, and catalyze private investment in local renewable projects. The proposed Magador solar project would repurpose a vacant brownfield site while supporting CAP energy targets; additional details including financing plans will follow consultant recommendations. No binding financial commitments for the solar array were approved on Oct. 1.