Skokie officials gave a presentation at a Nov. 14 meeting that fleshed out many details of their ambitious 128-page Environmental Sustainability Plan, which village officials hope will prevent scenarios such as an increase in the number of days over 95 degrees. The plan calls for reducing the village’s greenhouse gas emissions by 35% in 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
The first eight years of the plan would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 726,000 metric tons, as measured in 2020, to 469,000 in 2030, said Ted Redmond, a co-founder of paleBLUEdot, a consulting firm the village hired to update Skokie’s 2016-21 sustainability plan.
“A number of other communities in the region are aiming with similar actions toward similar goals,” Redmond said during a special Village Board meeting. “We have already witnessed climate change impacts in Skokie. If we continue as we are now, we can look at more.”
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For example, Skokie has experienced a 70% increase in demand for air conditioning, he said.
According to the Village of Skokie Climate Vulnerability Assessment, produced by paleBLUEdot in May, the average temperature in the village increased by 1.13 degrees between 1980 and 2018, annual precipitation increased 5.7 percent, and the average annual number of days below freezing decreased by nine, according to the study.
By 2100, Skokie can expect its average temperature to increase by nine to 12 degrees, precipitation to increase by 15%, and the average annual number of days above 95 degrees to rise by 55, the study said.
About 90% of Skokie residents who responded to a survey about the study said they are moderately, very or extremely concerned about climate change, Redmond said.
More residents per capita responded to the survey than in any community with which paleBLUEdot has worked, he said.
Residents asked questions from their seats during Monday’s meeting but none formally addressed the board. The board was expected to hear comments from trustees and the public at its Nov. 21 meeting, Mayor George Van Dusen said.
“I will ask for a motion to accept and implement the plan as presented,” he said. “Then I will give each of the trustees a chance to make comments and ask questions. We will have staff and others here that evening. Then I will open it for public comment.”
Max Slankard, director of public works, called the new plan “version 2.0,” and said it builds off of the previous plan by asking all residents to contribute to the process.
“The 2016-21 plan held that each of us has an important role to play,” Slankard said. “Everyone’s part is needed to achieve a vision of a sustainable community.”
The plan was “truly a collaboration” created by a team of 33 people, including community members and staff, Redmond said. It contains nine sectors “addressing all aspects of village life” and focuses on 43 goals or strategies, he said.
The strategies address transportation and mobility, land use and housing, buildings and energy, waste management, local food and agriculture, green space and trees, water and wastewater, health and safety, and the local economy.
Village Manager John Lockerby said staff will be assigned to oversee each sector and report regularly on developments. Van Dusen likened the process to a review the village ordered of the Police Department about eight years ago.
“A consultant reviewed and gave us recommendations,” Van Dusen said. “The chief reported back every six months.”
Jim McNelis, vice chair of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, recommended the village hire an expert to oversee the implementation and execution of the plan.
“We will need someone to focus on this mission, someone to champion it,” McNelis said. “With all the grants out there and available, the new position could actually pay for itself.”
Liz Zimmerman, assistant to the public works director, said the village will likely adopt the plan gradually.
“I think we’re going to have a period of growing pain and transition,” Zimmerman said.
“I’m very confident we can make it happen with staff, also knowing towns around us have been able to transition.”
One part of the plan calls for the village to help expand the number of electric vehicles in Skokie from 174 today to 8,100 in 2030.
Slankard said the goal is to make the village an “EV-ready community” with the help of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus by providing and maintaining adequate charging infrastructure.
The MMC’s EV Readiness Program provides a checklist of community “action items” in zoning and planning, permitting, inspection and safety, parking and access, new construction, equitable access, municipal fleets, financing and community engagement, he said.
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Public works has submitted an application for an employee to be included in the program’s first training cohort, which begins in early December, Slankard said.
“We’re pleased to be able to move forward with that and gain that expertise,” he said.
“Hopefully, we will get certified at a very high level.”