Slowly but surely, city says, Bethlehem is on the climate-action come up

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A city objective to tackle the local effects of climate change is steadily progressing as it pushes the three-year mark since adoption, officials said Wednesday.

Mayor J. William Reynolds, giving an annual Climate Action Plan update at Bethlehem Town Hall, said he attributes the progress so far to the community’s belief in the mission.

Their “enormous buy-in” stems from 125 Climate Action Champions (Climate Challenge participants) and more than 30 area organizations, he said.

The city wants to clear the 200-champion hurdle soon, and will offer that lucky signee the chance to break ground on the planned South Bethlehem Greenway connection with Saucon Rail Trail once the land purchase goes through.

“Our Climate Action Plan effort going forward is going to be something that is going to have to be organic in what its mission is," Reynolds said.

"But it is going to be able to count on the fact that we have so many people that want to be a part of it and don’t necessarily look for credit in the successes."

'I can pitch in a little bit'

The CAP’s broader goals include reducing community greenhouse gas emissions 33% by 2025, a 60% reduction by 2030 and hitting net-zero status by 2040.

The municipal operations target is 67% reduction by 2025 and net zero by 2030.

For the CAP to continue progress, resident Steve Olshevksi said, it’ll take a wider effort of steady changes from the community beyond City Hall.

“It gives people like me — just individual contributors, individual, regular citizens — an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, I can pitch in a little bit, and I can do some of this work, too,’” Olshevksi said.

“There’s no reason why we can’t have a couple thousand [people] doing this work.”

In the past year, the climate "champions" have taken on the Bethlehem Climate Challenge, which was introduced last November to outline efforts listed in the city’s CAP while encouraging public participation.

Challengers pledge to conduct household energy audits, make use of renewable energy, use alternative transportation and more as fits their unique lifestyles.

'We keep chipping away'

Some key takeaways on the climate action front from this past year include the city hiring a full-time sustainability manager who’s set to start soon and the $2 million purchase of 10 new electric buses for the school district fleet.

Other highlights, whether from the past year or upcoming, include the following, as told Wednesday by the CAP’s nine implementation committees:

Local Food and Waste — Pursuing zero-waste practices for the city’s larger festivals and events; looking to pilot a potential food recovery model in 2025; researching community composting; and two gardens created at the city Boys and Girls Club.

“These initiatives dovetail nicely with the Health Bureau’s Community Health Improvement Plan to reduce household hunger and decrease the prevalence of chronic diseases,” said Sherri Penchishen, city director of chronic disease programs and member of the CAP Food and Waste Subcommittee.

Land Use and Green Space, Transportation and Mobility — Finalizing design of Monocacy Way Trail extension to the D7L Trail at Sand Island; buying the trail connection at South Bethlehem Greenway and Saucon Rail Trail; and pursuing grants to complete that work once the land purchase is finalized.

Also, contracting a consulting firm to help with the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, with work starting in 2025; searching for a consultant for the city’s Complete Streets and Bicycle Infrastructure Plan; and working on pedestrian improvements along East Broad Street and moving west.

“All these things take time, but we keep chipping away,” city Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller said.

'Create jobs, reduce emissions quickly'

Environmental Justice — Installed adaptive, ADA-compliant swings and a community message board at Madison Park, a similar swing set at Northdale Park and swings, sensory-friendly apparatus, two new pavilions and an outdoor pingpong table at Saucon Park.

Also, planted 25 total trees across the city; partnering with Lehigh University and Bethlehem Area School District for student apprenticeship opportunities; incoming improvements at Friendship Park and Bethlehem Rose Garden.

Municipal Operations — Adding six hybrid or electric vehicles to the city’s current fleet of 20; acquired 100% natural gas to cover municipal operations.

Buildings, Electricity Sourcing — Received $135k in a federal grant for technical assessment and equipment rebate vouchers supporting on-site solar assessments and upgrades; 60 solar applications in 2022, but now 94 year-to-date in 2024; and the model code under consideration, International Energy Conservation Code 2021, is 9-15% more efficient than the one currently in place for the city.

Jeffrey Irvine, vice president of WSP and a professional working with the city to find net-zero strategies, said buildings can make up more than 70% of a city’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Energy efficiency can save consumers money, it can create jobs and also reduce emissions very quickly,” Irine said.

Large Organizations and Institutions — Continued development of the Lehigh Valley Green Ribbon Commission and held regular meetings with the mayors of the Lehigh Valley’s three major cities and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

The CAP implementation committees regularly share reports at Environmental Advisory Council meetings, on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in Northampton Community College’s Fowler Center Room 106 A&B.