SF Climate Action

Jerri Jerreat | Nov 08, 2023

I’m sure everyone in South Frontenac is excited to see the first Climate Action Plan unveiled soon. At the May 16th council meeting, we were promised it would emerge this fall.

After this summer of 2023 with smoke advisories, heat waves and tornado warnings, flooding out east, wildfires across the country—every municipality has to do their part. Haliburton Highlands, Lanark County, Halton Hills Region and many others all have strong Climate Action Plans. Even Gananoque!

I’m sure the plan will be great. Our staff (and our Council) are. We are hoping to see in South Frontenac’s Climate Action Plan:

1. A commitment to retrofitting one South Frontenac-owned building per year.
   Council did an excellent job last year, retrofitting one fire station, installing a Cold Climate Heat Pump for heating and cooling and a metal roof with solar panels! Bravo!
2. A commitment with a target to reduce the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from our community of perhaps 30% by 2030. (The full 50% reduction target for 2030 set out in the 2016 Paris Climate Accord might be challenging here.) Every decision the council makes, going forward, should really be through a Climate Lens. Ask: what is best for South Frontenac over the next thirty years as major climate events keep increasing? How can South Frontenac lower our emissions?
3. Public electric vehicle charging stations, Level 2, to be installed in our larger communities, such as Verona, Sydenham & Harrowsmith, as a service for both residents and to bring in tourists. Haliburton Hills, a rural region of 20,000, just installed five!
4. Help for residents to access all the federal grants available to switch from oil/propane to cold climate heat pumps. Right now, we can each receive the cost of an Energy Audit repaid by the Canada Greener Homes Grant, and up to $5000, if we put in a heat pump. (Ours is amazing, and our total bills are lower, btw.) Lanark and Prince Edward Counties are getting help from Cedric Pepelea and EnviroCentre.ca to access another federal pool of money, loans and grants for homeowners to reduce their GHG emissions through home improvement.
5. A simple public bus system down some major north-south county roads into Kingston. Love that first carpool lot!
6. Could we invest in a solar farm or a small river hydro generator--owned by South Frontenac for South Frontenac? Solar panels could be put over all large flat rooftops, or any rooftop facing mostly south, or built over a low vegetable crop. (Apparently they work better with plants underneath them, and the crop is protected from the worst heat.) To start with, it could earn money for SF by putting energy into the Ontario grid. Later, it might be able to supply our area in a blackout.

Very excited to see South Frontenac’s Climate Action Plan.

Jerri Jerreat, member
Frontenac Citizens for Climate Action (FC4CA)