Lexington committee hears ‘Race to Net 0’ emissions plan; officials stress partnership with utilities and community

The Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee on June 10 heard a presentation on Lexington’s updated community and municipal emissions-reduction plan, titled “Race to Net 0,” aimed at guiding the city toward net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by midcentury.

The plan, presented by Jada Walker Griggs, program manager senior for sustainability, and Abby Terry of consultant Tetra Tech, lays out sector-by-sector reduction measures tied to the city’s Empower Lexington plan and a community emissions inventory. “It is our race to net 0,” Walker Griggs said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The plan shows municipal operations account for a small portion of total emissions — about 2% — while stationary energy (mostly buildings) and transportation make up the bulk. Committee members pressed staff on how the city will work with utilities, transit and the private sector to achieve targets that extend to 2030 and 2050.

Key details: Walker Griggs said the updated plan aligns Empower Lexington’s high-level strategies with a more detailed emissions inventory and vulnerability assessment. Staff contracted Tetra Tech to complete the greenhouse-gas inventory for both community-wide and LFUCG municipal operations. The inventory presents emissions in metric…