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New Castle climate volunteers outline sustainability park, energy audits and rooftop solar push
Summary
Volunteers from the New Castle Climate Action Team updated the council on work toward a city climate action plan, citing a 200+ respondent survey and proposing a sustainability park, a new city energy audit, expanded solar and targeted engagement with large local employers to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Crystal Stanish, who said she represents the New Castle Climate Action Team, told the council the group has been working since the city passed a 2022 resolution to draft a climate action plan and has collected more than 200 survey responses to guide priorities.
“The community survey showed that people really do care about our city and having a clean environment,” Stanish said, describing the group’s effort to keep youth involved and to learn from neighboring cities’ plans. She urged the city to consider a new energy audit for municipal facilities and to explore solar rooftop opportunities the mayor has been investigating.
Stanish outlined a list of proposals the volunteers would like to see embedded in the plan: finish tree plantings and pocket prairies at a previously discussed sustainability site, pursue more solar initiatives including easier installation for residents, identify reputable local solar installers, and pursue grant funding rather than expecting large direct city investments. She also suggested traffic‑calming on minor streets to allow safe golf‑cart and bicycle routes to reduce short car trips.
The presenter said the team has reviewed a greenhouse gas inventory that attributes much of the city’s emissions to industrial and commercial sources and recommended outreach to large local employers — including school corporation and local firms — to document and share best practices.
Stanish said the group will continue meeting with city officials, pursue grant opportunities and keep youth engagement visible as part of drafting the plan. The council thanked the students for attending; Stanish asked members who objected to any proposal to speak with her afterward rather than during the presentation.
