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Sustainability director reports energy savings, EV network growth and a rescinded federal composting grant
Summary
The sustainability director told the committee of a 40% year-over-year energy reduction at Chestnut Street Garage after repairs, plans to expand EV charging and a rescinded $50,000 EPA grant for a permitted food-scrap composting site at Snyder Avenue.
West Chester’s sustainability director reported on energy-saving fixes, plans to expand public electric vehicle (EV) charging and a recent federal grant reversal during the committee meeting Tuesday.
The director said sensors installed at Chestnut Street Garage revealed three 5,000-watt heaters running nonstop in elevator hoistways and an exhaust fan that negated the heaters’ effect. "Since the fix, [we're] seeing a 40% reduction year over year in energy usage at that facility. It's about $15,000 a year," the sustainability director said.
He also reviewed the borough’s public EV charging network: nearly 1,000 users last year and almost $12,500 in revenue to date. The director said the charging fee is set to cover electricity costs and to generate modest funds for long-term maintenance and replacement of charging equipment; he described the current fee as intentionally below market to encourage use while covering ongoing costs.
The presentation also covered the borough’s updated green building checklist, which the director said has links to building-height rules and will return to borough council after further review with the solicitor. He said the checklist is reviewed internally by staff and by the Sustainability Advisory Committee before being forwarded to council and that the planning commission provided feedback earlier this month.
On police operations, the director described a pilot to install shore-power-style plugs at police vehicle parking spaces to charge vehicles without idling engines; the pilot supports specialty vehicles such as canine and drone units and can reduce engine run hours.
On stormwater and community programs, the director said the borough posted its best first quarter ever for the stream protection fee, with revenue above $1 million for the period. He also described volunteer-run green stormwater maintenance, recent neighborhood cleanups with more than 300 volunteers and upcoming projects such as the Taylor Run stream restoration, pending permit approvals.
The director said an EPA grant of $50,000 that would have helped establish a permitted food-scrap composting site at Snyder Avenue was rescinded about six weeks after award. He described the grant’s loss as a setback but said the work done preparing the application clarified next steps and the borough would continue pursuing the project without federal funding.
Ending: Committee members asked follow-up questions about solar potential on borough facilities and the borough’s approach to EV station pricing and expansion. The director said a structural assessment indicates the borough hall roof could support solar and that incremental expansion of EV plugs in borough garages is feasible; he also cautioned that large-scale public charging expansion beyond municipal garages would be more complex and costly.
