Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment Sustainability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sustainable Environment Commission outlines water conservation, e‑waste handling and energy goals
Summary
Steve McGahn, chair of Moscow’s Sustainable Environment Commission, briefed the council on the commission’s annual activities including updates to the city’s water conservation plan, e‑waste handling practices, reduced pesticide use policies, and upcoming community events on electrification and energy efficiency.
Steve McGahn, chair of the Sustainable Environment Commission, presented the commission’s annual report to the Moscow City Council on Aug. 18, summarizing a year of work on water conservation, waste management, pesticides, energy and community engagement.
McGahn described updates to the City of Moscow’s water conservation plan (last fully updated in 2015–16). Key elements under continued development include device-rebate programs (low-flow showerheads and irrigation nozzles), toilet and irrigation rebates, recommendations for new construction, and site-specific commercial rebate programs. The commission emphasized irrigation audits to reduce outdoor waste as summers lengthen and dry conditions intensify.
On waste, the commission focused on electronic-waste handling. McGahn said Inland Northwest brings e-waste to accredited facilities: many computer components and devices go to Recycle Boise for parts recycling and data scrubbing; some CRTs and televisions are sent to a recycling partner in Oregon; lithium-ion batteries are sent to a Lewiston facility; small appliances often go to landfill for metal salvage. The commission asked staff to follow up on the economics of e-waste recycling.
Pesticide use was another recurring topic. David Schott of the parks department (reported to the commission) provides an annual list of herbicides and pesticides used and described an integrated pest-management approach emphasizing reduced use, timed treatments to protect pollinators, and rotating one pesticide-free park per year; McGahn said Orchard Park (also called Water Tower Park/Rotary) was the pesticide-free park this year.
Energy issues included a presentation from Paul Kimball of Avista. McGahn reported Avista’s targets discussed with the commission: Avista aims for carbon-neutral electricity capacity by 2028 and a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045. The commission noted rising electricity demand as buildings and vehicles electrify and highlighted Avista’s work on grid resilience and wildfire mitigation.
The commission also promoted community events: an electric transportation fair on Sept. 21 at PCEI (co‑sponsored by Citizens Climate Lobby of the Palouse) and a planned energy-efficiency and electrification fair next spring at the Latah County Fairgrounds. McGahn thanked city staff, commissioners and citizen volunteers and noted the commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall.
Why this matters: The commission’s work shapes city-level recommendations on water conservation, public-works maintenance, waste management and community energy planning. Several items — water-conservation measures, e‑waste handling pathways and Avista’s clean-energy timelines — have operational or planning implications for city departments and residents.
