Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Growth Management Department invites citizens to a series of Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) public workshops on the draft Energy Element update to the Comprehensive Plan.

For information about the EAR process and other element workshops, click here.

For information on the draft Energy Element, click here.

The public workshops are scheduled for:  

• Monday, April 26^th from 6 - 8 p.m. - Millhopper Library (3145 NW 43^rd Street, Gainesville)
• Tuesday, May 4^th from 6 - 8 p.m. - Town of Tioga Community Center (105 SW 128^th St., Newberry)
• Monday, May 10^th from 6 - 8 p.m. - City of Alachua Branch Library (14913 NW 140^th Street, Alachua)

The EAR meetings on the draft Energy Element are part of a continuing conversation started with the award-winning Energy Conservation Strategies Commission (ECSC) final report.  The ECSC report was a 17 month community discussion culminating in a December 2008, final report with over 204 recommendations on how to build a more energy efficient and resource resilient community. Strategies in the report include: reducing and mitigating the effects of rising energy costs, creating energy independence from fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting the long-term economic security of the residents of Alachua County through energy conservation, efficiency and alternative energy deployment.

To view the ECSC final report, click here.

For more information about the Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies Commission, contact Alachua County Sustainability Program Manager Sean McLendon at 352-548-3765.

For more information about the EAR process, contact the Alachua County Growth Management Department at 352-374-5249.

40 Days of Change - For more information concerning events on and leading up to Earth Day, go to the University of Florida, Office of Sustainability's "40 Days of Change" website by clicking here.