Reflections on 2023
In spite of some promising progress on renewable energy use in the areas of solar and wind, the global climate crisis alarmingly continues, with increased investments projected for fossil fuel extraction. Climate justice around the world requires increased intentional focus from developed nations, much beyond what came out of COP 28. Nonetheless, with your support, the Quad Cities Climate Collaborative made some notable progress in our region this past year. We are excited to share that good news with you.
February Release of Key Climate Reports
Some of you will remember that it was in July of 2021 that we kicked off the PROTECT Campaign. After a multi-pronged, volunteer-supported series of events, rallies, letter-writing and postcards, and personal testimony before the Prescott City Council, in May of 2022, that Council unanimously authorized moving forward on a Quad Cities climate assessment.. With the outstanding work of CLIMAS, a climate research body out of the University of Arizona and the expertise and consultation of a broad-based stakeholder group, in February of 2023, we released the Quad Cities Climate Profile as well as a solution-based Local Climate Action Options Report. After years of silence from local political leadership, the conversation on climate change and climate impacts was finally elevated to a meaningful level of public understanding and dialogue. Now the local climate movement is focused on local solutions that individual Quad Cities communities can implement.
Earth Day/Earth Week 2023
Our community focus on the environmental challenges facing our region was again held during Earth Day and Earth Week in April, with a focus on "Water is Life." With the leadership of the Greater Prescott Outdoors Fund, another successful Earth Day event was held in downtown Prescott on the square. Educational booths hosted by an array of non-profits engaged in environmental work, and an amazing children's activity center, drew a vibrant crowd throughout the day. The entire week was filled with films, presentations, an Arbor Day celebration, storytelling and an interfaith service - all focused on the protection and restoration of our planet.
Sacred Earth: Common Ground
With our partner, Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, our local Interfaith Climate Action Team (a consistently strong supporter of the PROTECT Campaign), sponsored a story-telling program to build bridges across political-religious-cultural divides by sharing personal stories about times and places where we stood on sacred ground and connected to nature and to the Earth that sustains us. This first-time event was hosted by Temple B'rith Shalom with partner faith communities from Trinity Presbyterian and Granite Peak UU congregations. With music, poetry and stories, our "Sacred Earth: Common Ground" event was an engaging and inspiring evening.
Solar United Neighbors/Quad Cities "Go Solar" Campaign
One of the many action proposals in the Local Climate Action Options report was the initiative to expand household use of solar across the region. With our lead partner, Solar United Neighbors, we were thrilled that 36 households and one church (Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Prescott Valley), proceeded with solar installs. The co-op members selected a lead solar company, Icon Power, out of Tempe. With local sponsors, including QCCC, the Interfaith Climate Action Team, NAZCCA, and the Sierra Club-Yavapai Group, this initiative was a resounding success.
Fire Adapted Communities
Yet another local action solution was the development of a new framework of wildfire community preparedness that expands education, coalition building and communication across engaged stakeholders. Led by Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre, this strategic initiative was presented to Prescott City Council, followed by the appointment of a new position, Wildfire Risk Management Supervisor, in August of 2023. This position is an important part of the city-wide Forest Health and Risk Reduction Program and FAC. This will improve wildfire safety for our entire community by applying a comprehensive approach to mitigating wildfire risk.
2023 Wildfire Protection Plan
Developed and overseen by the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan addresses wildfire response, hazard mitigation, community preparedness, and structure protection. The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone, the area where structures and development mingle within undeveloped wildland, is a significant focus of the plan because there is an increased risk of wildfires and complicates firefighting efforts.
Collaboration is an essential element of a CWPP. The process of developing this type of plan can help local agencies and community members identify and prioritize areas and methods for the protection of life, property, and critical infrastructure. In July of 2023, the Office of Emergency Management published its most recent CWPP. In their section on "Management Areas & Risk Assessment", this report highlighted the Quad Cities Climate Profile and climate change, in general - "This profile documented climate changes such as rising temperatures, a lower number of days with precipitation, and more intense storms. The primary subjects for climate change impacts included Forest Health, Wildfire Risk, and Flooding . . . Climate changes over the past decades have had and will continue to affect forest health. The U of A and CLIMAS profile expects this trend to continue as drought conditions become more prevalent and average temperatures keep slowly rising. The frequency of large fires could multiply with these climate factors, increasing the risk for communities in the wildland-urban interface".
This recognition of the impacts of climate change is an important affirmation of the collaborative work the Quad Cities Climate Collaborative has undertaken with stakeholders across the region.
Prescott 2025 General Plan
QCCC was very involved with the General Plan process in 2023. Representatives made a presentation to the General Plan Review Committee shortly after the public release of the climate reports. We encouraged our members to respond to the General Plan survey as well as to attend the August public open house. Moreover, several QCCC Board members collaborated on the submittal of 4 "white papers" to the City over the summer on relevant, climate-related topics including energy use and conservation, green infrastructure, economic development and climate trends in the Quad Cities. We will continue to share our perspectives on these issues with City staff and the Review Committee.
Energy Audits in the Quad Cities
Prescott Valley approved Phase 1 of major improvements to town facilities early in 2023. The first phase cost is $8.6 million, which is expected to generate $10.9 million in savings during its life cycle. Good for the planet; good for the local economy and good for municipal energy efficiency and the town budget.
Local energy audits is one of the priority Local Climate Action Options report recommendations. It was highlighted in our February presentation to Prescott City Council and in a meeting with the City Manager's Office in April. Over the summer, City staff worked with a consultant to prepare a preliminary energy audit. While it has been shared with the City Council, it has not been released to the general public. We understand it is being reviewed with department heads. There must be some way to share some key findings from that report with the general public. This deserves better public relations, particularly given the leadership that the community exhibited by bringing this important initiative to the attention of City staff and Council leadership.
The Prescott Valley energy audit did not highlight the potential for solar and City fleet electrification. We hope that the Prescott energy audit has a more intentional focus on solar use, particularly at municipal facilities. We have long recommended a closer look at solar use at the airport wastewater treatment facility (both PV and Chino Valley have implemented such improvements). With respect to fleet electrification, we recognize this is a challenge; however, it is not too early to explore vehicle charging stations downtown and at municipally-owned sites. This is an important tourism strategy, as competitor cities in our region have already made progress in this area. It is a growing trend the City of Prescott should get ahead of.
Fiscal concerns, while clearly relevant, should not be a barrier to moving forward. The Prescott Valley financial plan suggests that many improvements pay for themselves. We are concerned that with staff constraints, The City of Prescott may not be focusing sufficient attention to state and federal grant funding for renewable energy strategies. We are hopeful that the Prescott municipal energy audit examines those opportunities in more detail.
Closing Thoughts
There are over 40 recommendations in the 2023 Local Climate Action Options report. It is a blueprint to a more sustainable future. Progress in our communities will require collaborative partnerships and a commitment to local climate action. We hope this 2023 update sparks some hope in your heart and mind and moves you to engage and partner with us at an increased personal level in 2024. Here's to a Happy Sustainable New Year to you, our region and our fragile planet!
