Environment and Sustainability

Strategic Theme

This theme focuses on environmental quality and sustainable practices in our community.

9
Total
Objectives
38
Total
Action Items
0
Completed
Action Items
58
Total
KPIs
0
Completed
KPIs

Vision Statement

The City is proactive in sustainable environmental stewardship. Lebanon’s Principles of Sustainability focus on seven principles. Principle #3 is Environmental Responsibility and Energy Efficiency.

Principle #3 – Environmental Responsibility and Energy Efficiency

Does the action. . .

A. Sustain and enhance a healthy natural environment: air, water, soil, and ecosystems?

B. Promote and reinforce a network ("green infrastructure") of protected open space and natural areas?

C. Improve energy efficiency and reduce the City's carbon footprint?

D. Engage the Lebanon community to conserve energy and adopt more sustainable technologies for heating, cooling, lighting, transportation, and so forth?

The functions of the City government will achieve the objective of reducing its greenhouse gas emission 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The City supports the Paris Climate Accords and the implementation of the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Waste Management

The goal is to achieve zero waste. The City manages a number of waste materials from the City itself and the Upper Valley as a region. The goal is to recycle the materials where possible or dispose of the materials in an environmentally safe fashion that does not impair the public health. As technological solutions become available the City implements them to achieve the ultimate goal of eliminating waste.

Energy

The City’s Master Plan outlines the City’s policies regarding Energy in Chapter 13. The City implements a number of strategies to reduce the amount of energy used in the community with a shift from energy that produces greenhouse gas emissions. This includes a shift to the use of electric powered vehicles and electric powered building heating sources. The City shifts to energy produced by solar, landfill gas and other renewable sources.

Conservation and Natural Resources

The City’s Master Plan outlines the City’s policies regarding Natural Resources in Chapter 5. The City has considerable conservation and natural resource assets that it continues to maintain and protect.

Sustainable Development

The City continues to take initiatives through collaboration with the community and its land use regulations, planning, zoning, codes, and other policies to encourage new development and redevelopment to be highly sustainable in terms of the health of our environment and economy and the livability and affordability of our neighborhoods and community.

Responsible Groups

City Departments

Citywide Library Planning and Development Police Public Works Recreation, Arts, and Parks

Boards and Committees

Conservation Commission Electric Vehicle Subcommittee Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee Library Board Planning Board

Community Partners

Lebanon Rotary PCNH Sustainable Lebanon Vital Communities

Strategic Objectives

Primary objectives under this strategic theme

5.1 Enhance the City's waste management practices with the end goal of reducing the City's waste to zero non-renewable material.
5.1.1 Implement pay-as-you-throw program.
Incentivize recycling and food scrap collection through implementation of phase 1 of pay-as-you-throw program. Increase residential recycling and food scrap collection by 10%
Incentivize recycling and food scrap collection through implementation of phase 2 of pay-as-you-throw program.
5.1.2 Implement a clothing recycling program.
Implement program in 2023
5.1.3 Determine feasibility of mandatory recycling for commercial and dropped off MSW
Conduct a study to determine feasibility of mandatory recycling for commercial and dropped off MSW
5.1.4 Implement a Recycling Public Education Program
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5.2 Managing solid waste and wastewater to ensure public health, the protection of wildlife, the protection of plant life and minimizing the impact on the environment.
5.2.1 Manage PFAS/PFOA and other emerging contaminants to ensure public health and minimize impacts on the environment.
Monitor bi-annually concentration of PFAS/PFOA and other contaminants as they are identified
5.2.2 Ensure wastewater is effectively treated to prevent negative environmental and public health impacts
Treat wastewater in compliance will all State and EPA standards.
5.2.3 Enhance odor control efforts in the Riverdale neighborhood.
Installation of a treatment filter NLT the end of 2024.
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5.3 Ensuring the City's waste management infrastructure systems will meet the City's needs today and into the future.
5.3.1 Permit Phase 3 and 4 of the Solid Waste Facility
Complete Permitting of Phase 3 and 4 of the Solid Waste Facility. Begin in 2023 and complete by 2025
5.3.2 Install gas wells to support future gas generation for LFGTE for future years
Maintain a gas flow of 350 cubic feet per minute
5.3.3 Ensure solid waste is effectively disposed of to prevent negative environmental and public health impacts
Number of violations per year
5.3.4 Complete transfer station facility study for future back-up facility
Complete transfer station study
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5.4 Reduce the GHG emissions produced by City government’s activities by transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources by 2050.
5.4.1 Craft, implement, and follow the City’s ADM-149 Electric Vehicle and Equipment Procurement Policy.
Train City Staff in EV procurement practices.
Develop an Environmental Procurement Manual to accompany ADM-110 Procurement Policy by Q3, 2024 and train representatives of each City department to use it by Q4, 2024.
Develop an EV charging infrastructure plan for placement of charging stations at City facilities and in public areas to encourage EV adoption by employees and residents, in accordance with Lebanon’s ADM-149 Electric Vehicle and Equipment Procurement Policy.
Complete fleet transition plan for transition to electric vehicles. Note this is duplicate of 5.4.1C - implement City procurement policy transitioning to clean fuel vehicles/equip.
Develop and maintain policy for staff use of municipal EV charging stations by Q2, 2024.
5.4.2 Reduce energy use and transition buildings and fleet to non-fossil fuel sources.
Utilize Grants and IRS Direct Pay Tax Credits to subsidize solar, EV, EVCS, biogas (LFGTE) projects.
Implement recommendations from energy audits
Phase III solar projects operational by the end of 2024.
5.4.3 Monitoring of GHG emissions & Proposals for additional efforts to reduce emissions
Provide periodic report to City Council (PLN suggested edit - combine this with the following KPI)
Quantify COL GHG emissions and proposed reductions from pending efforts in the context of the 80% reduction goal
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5.5 Encourage and support communitywide initiatives to transition the community to 100% renewable energy or zero-carbon sources by 2050 in alignment with the Energy Chapter of the City's Master Plan.
5.5.1 Reduce electric use and fossil fuels.
Measure percentage of buildings on their way to 100% renewable or transitioning.
Seek funding for a weatherization/insulation, heat pump program for multi-unit housing.
5.5.2 Through collection development and programming, increase awareness and access to renewable energy resources and information
Seek out and promote renewable energy experts
Increase the libraries’ collection of resources on renewable energy
Development of mobile e-bike lending program
5.5.3 Transition Lebanon Electricity Supply to Renewable and Local. Make cost-effective local renewable electricity available to Lebanon residents, organizations, and businesses. Seek ways to encourage ratepayers to opt up to greener power.
Encourage and measure the number of electric customers who have opted to choose greener power through CPNH.
Make local or regional renewable electricity the cheapest and therefore default option for PCNH/CLP.
5.5.4 Explore the feasibility of an EV carshare program in Lebanon with a particular focus on equity and environmental justice and seek community partners to implement.
Measure the number of carshare programs contacted and proposals received by potential implementers.
Talk with landowners about potential to host a public EVCE on their properties. Measure the number of education events held and number of EV chargers installed.
5.5.5 Support existing multi-unit housing developments to install EV charging stations.
Develop a proposal for solar-powered electric charging stations.
5.5.6 Explore and support the installation of public electric charging stations where reasonable.
Submit a request to the City Council for Municipal EVCS zoning legislation. Legislation proposal/legislation that would allow the City to reduce or eliminate EVCE project risk to property owner. Lead: Deputy City Manager, LEAC, DPW
Research the efforts of other municipalities with GHG inventories and compile their robust examples by end of Q4 2024. Present a proposal and budget to City Manager.
5.5.8 Update the Energy Chapter of the Master Plan
Develop a Chapter 13, Master Plan update process with LEAC with support from Planning & DPW staff.
5.5.9 Update the Community Facilities and Services Chapter of the Master Plan
Develop a Chapter update process with a Citywide working group with support from Planning, Library Board, DPW staff
5.5.10 Promote benchmarking of annual consumption of energy for commercial and multi-family residential properties
Identify and educate property owners on the DOE benchmarking manager software
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5.6 Enhance, support and implement measures to sustain the City's public and private forests. Implement urban forest management programs to address urban heat zones and aesthetics.
5.6.1 Work with the Upper Valley Land Trust to expand the Signal Hill Conservation Property Boundary
Existing Conservation Easement extended to annexed property
5.6.2 Work with the Upper Valley Land Trust regarding permanently protecting Baker’s Crossing
Conservation Easement executed and recorded
5.6.3 Research and evaluate Lebanon participation in the NH F&W doe harvest program
Summary findings generated by the Lebanon ConCom and presented to the CM/CC
5.6.4 Promote tree health and vibrancy, and provide tree shade along documented heat island areas.
Conduct citywide urban tree inventory
Complete Heat Island Project and create Master Plan for Tree Plantings and Maintenance.
Hire tree warden/arborist
Complete annual tree planting throughout Lebanon. Goal of 25 planted in spring and 25 in fall
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5.7 Maintain and highlight the City's conservation resources.
5.7.1 Host Wild About Lebanon program events.
Four events held annually.
5.7.2 Update and Improve City Conservation Property Signage (e.g. kiosks, trail signs, etc.)
Two new Property Kiosks; 25 new trail signs.
5.7.3 Repair and replace trail infrastructure, e.g. Goodwin Bridge, vernal pool bridge, and various bog bridges.
Three infrastructure enhancement projects.
5.7.4 Conduct citywide tree inventory
Implement a version of the NH Big Tree Program by Fall 2025.
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5.8 Protect the water resources within the City.
5.8.1 Develop and disseminate public education materials regarding the importance of protecting our water supply sources.
Track number of dissemination efforts and estimate number of residents receiving such; provide report to the Conservation Commission
5.8.2 Innovative stormwater regulations existing in the Site Plan Review Regulations to be migrated to the Subdivision Regulations as appropriate
Stormwater section added to Subdivision Regulations
5.8.3 Host bi-annual Mascoma River clean-up
Event held between June and August
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5.9 Protect the wildlife, aquatic organisms and plants from the impacts of human activity and climate change.
5.9.1 Conduct review of existing steep slope regulations
Evaluate desirability of amending/expanding Zoning Ordinance Steep Slope regulations; present summary findings to the Lebanon Planning Board and Conservation Commission
Adopt amended/expanded steep slope zoning regulations in 2025
5.9.2 Examine the applicability of a Vernal Pool overlay district
Evaluate desirability of adopting Zoning Ordinance vernal pool regulations; present summary findings to the Lebanon Planning Board and Conservation Commission
Adopt vernal pool zoning regulations in 2025
5.9.3 Implement recommendations from the wildlife corridor plans
fence sections on Mt Support road removed
Pursue wildlife underpass design and funding on Route 120
Amend Site Plan Review Regulations to add protections for wildlife corridors
5.9.4 Host Amphibian Crossing Program
# of volunteers that participate in amphibian Big Nights
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