An environmental sustainability plan approved by the Worcester City Council on Tuesday sets a goal of using entirely renewable energy for city buildings by 2030 and a similar goal for transportation by 2045.
The plan is aligned with new state legislation and goals, and sets a target for making Worcester a sustainability leader in Massachusetts and the most sustainable mid-sized city in the country, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said in a statement after the vote.
Other aspects of the plan include planting of more trees throughout the city, particularly downtown, where they’re less common than in less dense residential areas. The city said the plan also builds upon efforts over the past decade to make city operations more energy efficient, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving water quality in lakes and ponds. A plan is also to be created for eventually reaching a zero-waste goal.
The plan was created after more than a year of work, a process that included public polling and input and working with Larissa Brown + Associates LLC of Cambridge, a firm helping municipalities plan energy and land use, transportation and other needs with environmental considerations.
