Volunteer and board unveil Waynesville sustainability web pages funded by DOE grant

Kip Sutton, a member of Waynesville’s Environmental Sustainability Board and a volunteer with the local Environmental Action Community nonprofit, presented new sustainability pages added to the Town of Waynesville website on Sept. 9.

Sutton said the pages were created as a deliverable of a Department of Energy grant that funds technical studies of the town’s energy systems and community outreach. "The grant is from the Department of Energy," he told the council, and the project looks at options such as solar and battery storage for the recreation center and the Public Works building and other measures to increase resilience.

Sutton demonstrated an interactive town map that highlights EV charging stations, parks, town buildings, greenway master‑plan segments and other sustainability resources. He said the site is designed as a living resource that staff can update as projects progress and pointed to a pending grant for high‑speed EV chargers in the Hazelwood parking lot as an example of an item that would be added if the project advances.

Councilmembers praised the site’s layout and resources and asked staff to continue updates; Sutton noted staff support from Candice and Ken and said the pages include links to federal, state and local rebate programs, a volunteer section and an expanding FAQ. No formal action was required; the presentation was received for information and the board indicated it will return with further updates as grant work continues.

The website is intended as a public information hub for residents and businesses to find energy‑efficiency incentives, EV charging information and guidance on local sustainability programs.