A2gov gives the downtown protected bikeways a lot of screen time in a recent #A2Zero promo video https://youtu.be/_yexCYOfa5o ... rightly so! A2 must build great telegenic bike infra outside its downtown core ASAP. 🔥

#A2Council

Dr Stults says that this isn't just strong-arming DTE. We're gonna consult the entire marketplace to get us the best possible way to further our #A2Zero goals. #A2Council

#AnnArbor still wants to gradually phase out burning #naturalgas in buildings, even if #DTEEnergy remains committed to providing longterm gas service. As city officials weigh their legal options, including a gas ban for new buildings that #DTE opposes, they’re now seeking to negotiate a new natural gas franchise agreement for Ann Arbor that would align w/ the city’s #carbonneutrality goals to incrementally transition to all-electric buildings.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/03/ann-arbor-eyes-new-legal-option-to-get-dte-to-phase-out-gas-service-in-city.html

#news #environment #a2zero

Dr. Missy Stults re Climate Action Millage. About $7.4m in budget, funding starts 1 July 2023.

Plan:

Staff to administer funds and advance #A2ZERO

Rebates / incentives for renewables, electrification, efficiency, and bicycle purchases
• Specific amounts TBD

Supports transportation with expanding walking and biking infrastructure and lighting upgrades. ("20 miles of protected bike lanes in 5 years")

Budget for "circular economy", "sustainable food"

Matching grants expand $

#a2council

I'm not an #AnnArbor resident, but I recently sent a letter to Ypsilanti officials. If you live in A2, PLEASE SIGN! If not, contact your local city or township officials.

"Ann Arbor residents have expressed support for #A2Zero Living #CarbonNeutrality Plan with a 20-year millage to fund it. The city has declared a climate emergency. We urge the city to ban #naturalgas connections in all new construction and substantially renovated or expanded buildings."

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdydcxBMmtxdED0k0iYOWKPnAugo2VaMFt4EiaDn7AwJZpQcA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2lCgDgKtVJiWYQ0AwpVRudrtPOK9uEXD-qd5BR-vX7pkEHhsozuDQy8Cg

#environment

#HeatPumps are now a key strategy of #AnnArbor’s #A2Zero plan to become #carbonneutral by 2030 to fight #climatechange. As the city considers a ban on #naturalgas for new buildings & aims to roll out more financial incentives for residents & businesses to ditch gas with renewable energy. Some trade unions & building industries argue the city’s plans are too ambitious, but climate activists & others who support the city’s sustainability goals still think it’s doable.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/01/ann-arbor-wants-to-get-off-gas-to-help-save-the-planet-is-it-doable.html
#news

Caller me says please don't make it more convenient to own a car in TC-1 areas. We need to be okay with making it inconvenient to own a car, if we're going to make it to the #A2Zero goal of a 50% reduction in vehicle miles travelled by 2030. #A2Council

New buildings in #AnnArbor will not be allowed to install #naturalgas connections. That’s if a proposal from the city’s planning commission is approved.

By requiring new buildings to only have electric items, like appliances and #heating systems, the planning commission believes it will help the City of Ann Arbor reach its goal of #a2zero #carbonneutrality by 2030.

https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2022-11-30/natural-gas-could-be-banned-in-future-buildings-in-ann-arbor

#news #michigan #Environment

City of Ann Arbor is piloting returnable, reusable takeout containers in a few restaurants this month! Pictured: from El Harissa. #A2Zero

Woke up & searched the #a2council hashtag on Twitter to see if #a2zero passed -- people there seem uncertain what happened on that vote, even though they were watching. Doesn't seem encouraging.

Does anyone here know?

Feels appropriate for #a2council considering the #a2zero plan: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/david-attenborough-life-planet-new-documentary-bbc-climate-crisis-coronavirus-a9472946.html

We must consider living within the means of the planet. That might include not being able to zoom about town for gymnastics lessons and yoga and a homebrew club meeting at a moment's notice, in a private car, powered by fossil fuels.

I attended the last portion of the #A2Zero unveiling presentation to partner organizations. It looks well-thought out, bold, impressive, possible! It will be presented to #a2council on March 30th so the slide deck should be available to the public before then.