Chester County officials aim to convert part of their government vehicles to electric and install charging stations around the county to meet regulations for their Climate Action Plan in 2023, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

The Climate Action Plan focuses on an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It was implemented in 2021, making it the first PA county to go through the local planning program. Officials also plan to research cost- and energy-efficient methods to charge the vehicles via renewable energy.

“In time, we’d like to get to at least 75 percent of the fleet being low or no-emission vehicles. And so we’re working on getting some charging stations in various parking lots at county facilities and we hope to be ordering some electric vehicles for 2024,” said Chester County Sustainability Director Rachael Griffith.

While the county does not currently have any no-emissions vehicles, they do have hybrid cars and have ordered more for 2023. Overall, the short-term goal is exchange 20 cars with electric vehicles by 2025.

“We have many, many opportunities to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. And while it is a very energetic plan, it is certainly one that we expect to be able to meet,” said Commissioner Marian Moskowitz.

Read more about the switch in WHYY.