RegenAll's second annual climate summit partnered with Millersville University to provide Lancaster County residents the opportunity to hear from experts, access resources, and work to reduce the county's carbon footprint.
“My dream is for Lancaster County to become a national model for effective, nonpartisan efforts that create meaningful climate impact while creating jobs and improving quality of life.” said Eric Souder, founder of RegenAll, at today's summit held at the Ware Center in Lancaster.
Founded in 2021, the environmental nonprofit brings together residents, businesses, and elected officials to scale initiatives around renewable energy, green transportation, and water quality. RegenAll spokeswoman Laura Brenner said about 140 people have registered for the climate summit.
With the passage of federal legislation on climate change and infrastructure, more money is available than ever before, and RegenAll aims to direct that money to local projects, Souder said.
A greenhouse gas inventory produced by Regenall for Lancaster County estimates that the county spends $2.5 billion a year on fossil fuels, a spending that Souder said is a wasteful move of economic resources out of the county. He said that.
“This is a special every-other-day donation, with the exception of fossil fuel companies,” Sauder said.
The greenhouse gas inventory uses 2018 data to avoid taking into account changes in energy consumption related to the pandemic. During the opening session of the Climate Summit, Sauder announced that RegenAll is working on an updated report using data from 2023.
According to the inventory, 51% of Lancaster County's greenhouse gas emissions are controlled by businesses, which includes energy and fuel consumption for commercial and industrial purposes. Additionally, 37% of emissions are regulated by households, including household energy consumption and fuel for private vehicles. Agriculture controls the last 12% of the county's emissions.
impacting businesses and residents;
RegenAll's support efforts target both businesses and households. Carbon Neutral Coffee, held the last Thursday of each month at the Commons Company, 315 Marion Street in Lancaster, brings together local business leaders to discuss climate-friendly business practices. Additionally, the Home His Navigator program provides audits to homeowners seeking to minimize climate change. Energy usage (see regenall.org/navigator for more information).
Local business leaders who attended the Climate Summit focused on how to bring sustainability into their corporate operations.
Christina Leslie, senior director of corporate sustainability at Eurofins, said green commuting initiatives at the research company's headquarters in Upper Leacock Township include electric vehicle chargers, bus passes and bicycles. He said it will include a repair station and an electric shuttle.
Eurofins has also installed green infrastructure such as rain gardens and will be holding a campus tour on June 12th during this year's Water Week.
At the neighborhood level, Lancaster County residents have also formed groups called Climate Action Neighborhoods to educate each other and share resources.
Representatives from Hamilton Park in Lancaster Township and College Park in Lancaster City attended the climate summit to offer advice and highlight their efforts.
The College Park chapter has documented recent efforts to raise awareness about plastic use on its website CollegeParkCAN.org. Organizer Melissa Snavely said the group was looking to take further action to reduce plastic use in the city.
Anyone interested in starting their own climate action neighborhood should check out regenall.org/start-a-chapter.