First Ever Sustainability Action Plan in Fairfield, Ohio
Blue Strike is proud to announce the completion of the first ever Sustainability Action Plan from the City of Fairfield, OH!
The City of Fairfield has developed this Sustainability Action Plan to maximize resource efficiency and improve the quality of life for all residents. This comprehensive roadmap addresses environmental, economic, and livability considerations, including energy usage, open space preservation, resource protection, and economic sustainability initiatives. Fairfield Sustains acknowledges the foundational work already in place and commits to continuing these practices as a core aspect of the city's future planning.
The Plan aligns with Fairfield Forward, the city's Comprehensive Plan, and Fairfield Connects, the mobility and transportation plan. It calls on the city to lead by example through demonstration projects, efficient operations, and community assistance programs. Fairfield Sustains balances ambitious targets with realistic strategies grounded in localized data, community input, and best practices.
Fairfield's municipal emissions for 2021 totaled 9,501 MT CO2e, primarily from water and wastewater treatment facilities, municipal buildings, the city fleet, and street lighting. Community emissions for the same year totaled 391,185 MT CO2e, with major contributions from residential, commercial, and industrial energy usage, as well as transportation.
The Plan sets mid-term (2030) and long-term (2055) targets for emissions reductions, aiming for a 60% reduction from the 2021 baseline by 2030 and a 74% reduction by 2055. Target dates align with the city’s 75th and centennial milestones. Strategies focus on high-impact sectors like Mobility & Transportation, Buildings & Energy, and Resource Conservation, and Complementary sectors, supporting Nature & Green Community and Business & Community Resilience.
Community engagement played a crucial role in developing the Plan, which incorporated feedback from residents, businesses, stakeholders, city Environmental Commission, and city staff and leadership. The Plan also emphasizes city leadership through demonstration projects, as well as collaboration and partnerships with regional bodies like the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments and Butler County agencies.
Fairfield Sustains outlines a strategic roadmap with goals, strategies, and actions to achieve sustainability targets. It includes initiatives like leveraging energy aggregation for renewable energy, continuing municipal renewable energy credit procurement, implementing municipal solar projects, improving energy efficiency, electrifying the city fleet, and expanding waste diversion programs.
To ensure successful implementation, the Plan calls for establishing a Sustainability Manager, securing grant funding, prioritizing sustainability in policies and purchasing, and ongoing education and outreach efforts. We commend Fairfield for adoption of the Plan, as well as for their significant progress already made to date toward implementation in creating a Sustainability Fund, taking steps toward municipal solar, and actively recruiting for their new Sustainability Manager. The comprehensive approach of Fairfield Sustains aims to create a more sustainable, engaged, and resilient community for generations to come.
Thank you, Fairfield, for your rewarding collaboration on this exciting project!
