Page 2 - Kumar Jensen News Today

July 30, 2021 It’s not easy being green — but over the past decade and a half, Evanston has done just that, making a name for itself as a sustainable city. From being the first city in Illinois to commit to full carbon neutrality to utilizing community participation every step of the way, the city has implemented a wide range of plans to address the climate crisis. The fight against climate change is ongoing, but to understand the city’s future, it’s important to look back a...

Evanston’s Community Solar Program, a cheaper alternative to other available renewable energy sources, has been open for resident subscriptions since May 2021.  The program aligns with the goals of the city’s Climate Action Plan, according to Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th).   The Evanston Climate Action Plan was established in 2008 with the goal of a 13-percent carbon emission reduction by 2012. The second version of the plan, the Livability Plan, passed in 2014 and raised the bar to a 20-...

Evanston announced that residents will be able to sign up for the Community Solar Program in a Monday newsletter. The Community Solar Program, which operates in partnership with Chicago-based MC Squared Energy Services, will allow residents to use carbon-neutral solar energy with no installation fee or on-site solar panels. The Community Solar Program will expand...

Evanston Now Banning leaf blowers would dramatically increase the cost of lawn care service in Evanston. Banning leaf blowers would dramatically increase the cost of lawn care service in Evanston. That was the message Monday night from Ben Klitzkie of Nature’s Perspective Landscaping, who said leaf blower restrictions under consideration by the City Council would add 40% to 50% to the time required for landscaping jobs. The city’s sustainability officer, Kumar Jensen, said, in a memo propos...

The city relaunched its Sustain Evanston business recognition program and announced residents will be able to sign up for Community Solar to use solar energy without having to pay an installation fee, according to a Monday newsletter. Both initiatives will help Evanston advance on its Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which strives to make Evanston carbon neutral by 2050  CARP also has smaller benchmark goals to keep the city on track. It aims for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, a...

As deadlines set in the Climate Action and Resilience Plan approach, some advocates are questioning whether Evanston is allocating enough funding and resources to the Office of Sustainability. CARP plans for carbon neutrality by 2050, but it also sets smaller, more specific benchmarks to ensure Evanston stays on track over the next few decades. Some of these goals are quickly approaching. By 2025, CARP aims for all vehicle fleets operating in Evanston, including school buses, to transition to 5...

Evanston community members and environmental leaders discussed the Church Street Waste Transfer Station, the city’s environmental policies and other local concerns at a virtual panel Thursday. The event was part of Citizens’ Greener Evanston’s “Earth Week for Everyone” series, which is taking place Thursday through Saturday in honor of Earth month. Kumar Jensen, Evanston’s chief sustainability and resilience officer, said there has been increased collaboration between environmentali...

In an effort to incentivize energy efficiency and reduce barriers to renewable energy access, City Council approved a two-and-a-half-year funding agreement with Chicago-based MC Squared Energy Services, LLC., according to a Thursday news release. This partnership continues the city’s community choice electricity aggregation program, which aims to increase Evanston’s renewable energy usage and furthers the goals set by Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.  So far, the city’s e...

Evanston Now Recap: Evanston City Council Heres a recap of our live coverage of this evenings Evanston City Council meeting at which aldermen will discuss permitting tiny homes and get an update on the citys racial The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online. A plan to permit tiny homes in Evanston is on the agenda along with an update on the city’s racial equity efforts. Meeting called to order at 6:08 p.m. Mayor prai...

Emphasizing climate-friendly buildings, City Council accepts CARP update Climate-friendly buildings and workforce development were on the table Monday in an update on the Climate Action and Resilience Plan’s implementation that City Council voted to accept and file. Council unanimously passed CARP in 2018, committing to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Advancements since the plan’s passage have included adopting the Environmental Justice Res...