By Patrick Newhook/December 30, 2021
With climate change becoming as dominant an issue as coronavirus, the City of Mount Pearl is trying to be proactive in dealing with it.
The City’s latest budget outlines the steps Mount Pearl has taken and will continue to take to fight Climate Change.
Last year, the city implemented LED lighting at the Glacier. Mount Pearl is spending $60,000 to put such lights in City Hall in 2022.
“Our focus on climate change remains firm,” said Councilor Jim Locke, who chair’s council’s finance committee, “as evidenced by the over $200,000 investment made this year in LED lighting at the Glacier, which has multiple proven benefits including a reduction in Green House Gas emissions and electricity cost savings.”
Locke cited other climate initiatives the city took on in 2021 such as a compost pilot project and installing solar lighting in bus shelters.
The City is spending $150,000 on urban forestry development and $70,000 on protecting Powers Pond by putting in a storm receptor. Mount Pearl will also explore putting charging stations in the city.
“Climate action will be front and centre in the $150,000 investment in urban forestry planned for next year, implementing a long-term plan for the planting of trees and shrubbery in key locations throughout our community,” said Locke. “In addition, we have allocated $70,000 for important preventative measures to protect Power’s Pond from any future oil contamination with the investment in and installation of a storm receptor.”
