Radnor Township wants owners of large buildings to report annual energy use under a proposed ordinance. The Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), chaired by Daniel Burnham, will hold a public meeting on the proposal Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Radnorshire Room of the Township Building, 301 Iven Ave., Wayne.

The policy would apply to owners of primarily multifamily, commercial and institutional buildings larger than 25,000 square feet. According to a township notice, those owners would be required to report annual energy usage and could use free tools such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to measure how their properties compare to similar buildings nationwide.

The township said in its notice that a major goal of the policy is to connect building owners with rebates, incentives and resources to lower energy costs and emissions. The benchmarking effort grew out of Radnor's Renewable Energy and Conservation Plan, adopted in February 2021.

EAC members and township staff have been meeting monthly with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and Green Building United to develop the ordinance. DVRPC's regional benchmarking program lost its funding in late 2025, but the policy adoption phase began in 2026, according to the EAC's April agenda. The Board of Commissioners has not scheduled a vote. The township has described adoption as possible in fall or winter 2026.

West Nile Virus detected at Encke Park

The Sept. 16 agenda also flags a West Nile Virus finding at Encke Park, which sits next to the municipal building. The Delaware County Health Department reported in late July that mosquitoes trapped there tested positive for the virus.

No human cases were linked to the detection. The township's Parks Maintenance Division has been removing standing water from parks, tarps and containers as a precaution. Mosquitoes collected Aug. 13 from traps in neighboring Tredyffrin Township's Strafford, Cedar Hollow and Wilson Farm parks also tested positive.

$120 million conservation referendum

EAC members will discuss a Delaware County ballot question headed to voters in November. County Council voted 5-0 to place a referendum asking whether the county should extend up to $120 million in borrowing over several years to finance land conservation projects.

The money could fund drinking-water protection, wildlife habitat preservation, trail and park development, stormwater improvements and wetland preservation, according to the EAC agenda. Parts of Delaware County face repeated flash flooding from its many creeks, and the funds could help communities improve stormwater infrastructure, the county planning department said. For a homeowner with a property valued at about $400,000, the estimated annual cost would be $24.

The Delaware County Republican Party opposes the measure, calling it a tax increase, the Daily Times reported Sept. 9.

How to attend

The EAC's regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, with the energy benchmarking session starting at 7 p.m. Both take place in the Radnorshire Room at 301 Iven Ave. Meetings air live on Comcast Channel 5 and Verizon FiOS Channel 30 and are archived on the township's YouTube channel. The next EAC meeting after Sept. 16 falls on Wednesday, Oct. 21.