KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The city of Kalamazoo now has a starting point as it begins a decades long effort to reduce it’s carbon footprint.
You need only look out the window to see the impact of gas emissions. The fact that we are seeing highs in the 50s in February, and could see 65 next week, can be linked to climate change.
The Kalamazoo City Commission has set a goal of having city operations carbon neutral by 2050.
The city’s Sustainability Coordinator, Justin Gish, did the study. His study estimates city operations generate about 53,000 tons of CO2-e annually.
He says one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas is the city’s water treatment facility.
He says the city’s utilities department has already begun working on sustainability and gas reduction.
Gish says the city government’s contribution is a small part of Kalamazoo total emissions, which is over 2.19-million metric tons per year.
He says comparisons between cities are difficult because every community is so different. Ann Arbor has no industrial firms. Kalamazoo’s water treatment plant actually serves an area much larger than the city, and Lansing has two gas fired electric plants, and more industry.
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