November 14, 2024

Madison rooftop solar panels

Climate action is currently receiving more attention than usual, in part due to the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that will provide unprecedented federal support. for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving environmental justice and improving resilience to the effects of climate change.

So, many people may be wondering what the climate of the City of Madison is like. I am happy to share that we are moving across the board and making great strides towards our goal of 100% renewable energy and net zero carbon emissions for City operations by 2030 and the entire community by 2050. Here is one roundup of some of our climate-focused work.

Madison’s Top Climate Actions:

  1. Use of clean energy for City operations. Nearly 75% of the electricity for the City’s operations comes from renewable sources, putting us well on the way to our goal of 100% clean energy by 2030. To achieve success, making We have a new and multifaceted approach that currently includes generating our own renewable energy, participating in Madison Gas and Electric’s Renewable Energy Rider program and purchasing renewable energy credits.
  2. Install solar on City facilities. We have installed more than 1.3 MW of behind-the-meter solar at City facilities, and we plan to install another 8 MW by 2030.
  3. Providing green training to the workforce through our GreenPower program. The GreenPower program prepares young people for careers in clean energy and trades. The trainees work alongside electricians from the city’s Engineering Division on solar and energy efficiency upgrades to city facilities.
  4. Community solar deployment. Our MadiSUN program, managed by local nonprofit partner RENEW Wisconsin, works to expand solar energy for homes, businesses and nonprofit community organizations through grants and group purchases. Currently, the program supports the development of more than 2 MW of solar in our community.Some of the electric cars in Madison
  5. Leading green buildings. Since 2008, we have committed to achieving LEED Silver certification or better for all new and renovated buildings in the City. We now have 14 LEED certified buildings, including 5 with Platinum certification, with 6 more in progress. We are proud to receive a 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy in recognition of our work to increase energy efficiency.
  6. Invest in energy efficiency for naturally occurring affordable housing. We partnered with Sustain Dane and Elevate Energy to provide clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades to 100 units of affordable, multi-family rental housing through a new pilot program. The program can reduce energy and water use by 10-20%, saving tenants and building owners $400 a year or more.
  7. Decarbonizing our Fleet. We are transitioning our fleet to low and no carbon fuel. Currently, we have over 60 electric vehicles, over 100 hybrid-electric vehicles, 3 all-electric buses and we use a mix of Wisconsin-made biodiesel for all trucks. And the Madison Fire Department runs North America’s first and only operating electric fire engine – the Volterra made by Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing.
  8. Providing all-electric Bus Rapid Transit. The new BRT system will expand access to affordable, reliable transportation using zero-emissions electric buses, making it easy for people to get from point A to point B without the cost of owning a car. .
  9. Growing sustainable transportation options. Through Complete Green Streets and Vision Zero, we are updating and expanding our transportation network to support walking, biking and other active transportation and expanding green infrastructure and other solutions to promote resilience. In 2021, we passed an ordinance requiring EV charging for new multifamily residential and some commercial developments to encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles.Madison Metro bus
  10. Collaborate for regional, statewide and national action. Collaboration is key to reducing carbon emissions at the pace and scale needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change. To leverage local action for greater impact, Madison, along with Dane County, convened the Sustainability Leaders Collaborative, a group of elected leaders and staff from Dane County cities who share information and lessons learned in solar installations, green fleets and more. I also use my voice representing Madison to collaborate with other cities and represent our needs at the national level as Vice Chair of Climate Mayors and Chair of EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee Air and Climate Workgroup.
  11. Increasing our climate capacity. In 2021, we hired Madison’s first Sustainability and Resilience Manager to lead our work to reduce emissions and grow resilience to the effects of climate change.
  12. Reducing flood risk in Madison neighborhoods. Since the 2018 floods, we are all flood resiliency by updating Madison’s stormwater ordinance in 2020, starting detailed watershed studies, upgrading our stormwater infrastructure to better manage the large rainfall events and investigating ways to expand our use of green infrastructure.
  13. Prioritizing the City’s climate and affordability. In July, we issued the first-ever citywide RFI to help identify and engage with a diverse group of vendors, business owners, local businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those who help in reduce carbon emissions for City operations.
  14. Converting our streetlights to LEDs. The City’s Traffic Engineering team is undergoing a multi-year effort to convert all of the City’s nearly 6,000 street lights to efficient LED bulbs, saving us energy and money and reducing carbon emissions. in the process.
  15. Need parts to continue our affordable housing fund. The City Affordable Housing Fund helps the private sector develop long-term affordable housing in Madison. We require applicants for these funds to reduce energy use by 20% based on a Focus on Energy analysis and install at least 30 kW of solar on site.Madison bikers near Monona Terrace

And we still have a lot of work to do. For example, we are working to develop a new Building Energy Savings Program to cut carbon emissions from the built environment while reducing energy costs for commercial building owners and tenants. And an updated, citywide Transportation Demand Management program will help expand sustainable transportation options. We are also exploring the use of low carbon concrete. New and expanded federal support provided through BIL and IRA will help us accelerate and grow our current climate successes. We have a strong track record of securing state and federal funding to support our work – the City typically receives and administers $50-75 million in federal and state grant awards each year – and is committed to ensuring that Madison benefit from these federal climate investments.

Don’t forget the Inflation Reduction Act that provides funding directly to local households and businesses to take actions that reduce their energy costs and carbon footprints. Check out this tool by Rewiring America to calculate how much you can withdraw from an IRA. And visit Cleanenergy.gov to sign up for updates on when IRA tax credits and rebates are available.

This content is free for use with credit to the City of Madison – Mayor’s Office and a link back to the original post.

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