Swissvale Councilwoman Shawn Alfonso Wells acknowledges that yes, navigating the world of sustainability can be difficult.
She said the only way to forge ahead as a municipality mulling ways to mitigate climate change is through “future-forward thinking.”
“We’re pretty on top of doing some green things,” she said, adding: “You need to be planning for 20 to 30 years down the line.”
And she said that’s what she and her fellow elected officials are working to do.
One of the most recent green initiatives was the addition of electric vehicles to its municipal fleet, as well as the construction of a public charging station on Aurelius Street near the Dickson STEAM Academy athletic field thanks to the partnership with Green Edge Tech and Duquesne Light.
Then there were the borough’s first curbside 24/7 accessible electric vehicle charging stations unveiled to the public last fall complete with a celebration commemorated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, remarks from local dignitaries and station testing by resident EV owners.
Swissvale also successfully sought $700,000 from Allegheny County Health Department’s Clean Air Fund to replace its trash and recycling trucks with electric versions as well as install two charging stations at the borough’s Public Works Department.
But how did they get started on their municipal EV journey and secure those investments? Wells said it could not have been done without help from CONNECT.
“(They) work really hard to make sure resources are available,” she said. “And (they) really made sure we were on track throughout the process.”
In addition to the technical and other support provided by CONNECT staff, Wells said just being in contact with municipal officials from other parts of the county and seeing what they are working on has been inspirational.
“You get to see what they are doing, and you want to do similar stuff,” she said. “It’s such a learning experience.”
Right now, the world of electrification isn’t the only green initiative in the works. The Borough is also in the process of becoming certified as a Bird Town Pennsylvania. This program through the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania seeks to build a network of individuals, community groups and municipalities dedicated to increasing both the quality and quantity of bird-friendly habitats in Pennsylvania.
And then there’s the borough’s Open Spaces initiative that aims to transform vacant lots into places the community can enjoy - think dog parks, areas with benches and picnic tables, and butterfly gardens.
Her advice to fellow municipal officials navigating the sometimes-confusing world of sustainability?
“Remember that it’s the small things,” Alfonso Wells said. “Look at the low hanging fruit - it’s a start!”