Sustainability committee asks council to fund solar inventory, fleet electrification and updated GHG inventory in CIP

The Portsmouth Sustainability Committee on Aug. 18 updated the city council on its priorities and submitted four formal capital improvement plan requests: (1) a citywide inventory of municipally owned sites to evaluate potential for rooftop, parking‑lot and ground‑mounted solar generation; (2) funding to revive a feasibility study for micro‑transit or a shuttle loop; (3) advanced planning for electrification of the municipal fleet and related funding strategies to move toward municipal net‑zero emissions by 2040; and (4) an updated greenhouse‑gas inventory, to be refreshed every three years. Committee co‑chairs Jessica Blasco and Effie Malley briefed councilors on recent work, including review of eighth‑grade solar project proposals and outreach to schools. The committee said it had invited students who prepared proposals to stay engaged, consider a student voting member role and attend meetings. Committee members also described ongoing state‑level engagement: Portsmouth has been recognized by the state as a climate action model and committee members contributed feedback on the state climate action plan. Blasco told the council the committee supports including energy criteria in budget decisions, advancing an EV‑charging plan through an RFP, and bringing an outside speaker in the fall to discuss electric school bus benefits and funding. The committee also reported a 14% increase in households participating in the city’s ‘BrightAction’ program this year. The committee requested the council consider these four projects as formal CIP submissions and offered to support outreach ahead of CIP hearings.