Wednesday, March 19, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Regional Municipality is asking for public input to help update its Community Energy Plan.

Right now, roughly $1.7 billion is spent every year on energy within HRM. The Community Energy Plan outlines actions that HRM can take to improve the sustainability of the energy used within the municipality.

The existing Community Energy Plan was developed in cooperation with stakeholders and was adopted by Regional Council in 2007. It forms part of the Regional Plan.

Council has agreed that it’s time to review and update the plan to outline actions that the municipality will take to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in the region over the next five years.

Residents are invited to visit HRM’s community engagement hub at www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca to learn more about the review and to take part in the discussion. Residents without Internet access can share their ideas by calling Shannon Miedema, HRM Environmental Performance Officer, at 490-3665.

As part of the public engagement, HRM will host a number of community events over the coming months. Staff members were on hand to collect feedback at the Solar Fiesta event in Dartmouth earlier this month, and will be out again from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alderney Landing Farmers’ Market on Saturday, April 12.

HRM is also asking business owners for suggestions on what the municipality can do to help them lower their energy costs. A survey specifically for business owners is available on the community engagement hub.

Staff members will carefully review and consider all the public feedback. The updated plan will be presented to Regional Council for final approval.

Source: Release