The climate emergency declared in 2019 by the County of Essex, the City of Windsor, and others, recognized the need for robust and permanent changes, that the future climate performance must be a high priority in all decisions, and called for cooperation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the wider region. Equally important as reducing emissions is the plan’s role in creating jobs and ensuring reliable and affordable sources of energy for all sectors into the future.
The development of a Regional Energy Plan was the next step on this climate action journey. The Essex County Regional Energy Plan was developed in partnership with the County of Essex, regional municipalities, and the community and used the guiding principles of ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY and RELIABILITY to establish targets and goals. The Essex County Regional Energy Plan was completed in spring 2021.