Want to have your say on how Niagara-on-the-Lake can be more energy-efficient and reduce greenhouse gases? The town is hosting a workshp at the community centre on Feb. 18, where it’s inviting participants to help develop a community energy and emissions plan.

The workshop will give residents an opportunity to provide input on the plan and learn how energy is produced and used in the community.

The event will include a short presentation on the community energy and emissions plan and the Ontario net-zero communities accelerator program, a QUEST Canada program that provides information to help municipalities develop energy and emissions plans.

Participants will also take part in breakout sessions on energy mapping and action planning and will have opportunities to share ideas.

QUEST Canada will join the town for the session. The organization works with municipalities across the country to develop energy and emissions plans.

Donald Wiedman, a spokesperson for QUEST Canada, said the goal is to get a “bird’s eye view” of energy use in NOTL to identify where energy is produced and consumed. That includes examining major sites such as city hall and large commercial centres. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, tourism also contributes to energy use, he said.

Wiedman pointed to his experience helping launch a bike train initiative to Niagara through the Greenbelt initiative as an example of local action.

He said he hopes residents attend to learn what municipal governments can and cannot do. While some powers rest with the province, he said municipalities and residents can still take steps to lower emissions and energy use.

“We focus on the role the municipality can play,” he said.

The workshop will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the NOTL Community Centre. Registration is not required.