Energy
Energy
Half of all the electricity produced in the U.S. is derived from coal, the burning of which releases heat-trapping pollutants, mercury, sulfur dioxide, particulates and other health-threatening smog pollutants. While climate change is a worldwide issue, 75 percent of all heat-trapping emissions are generated in the world's urban areas. Reducing energy use and emissions in cities is therefore fundamental to any effort to reverse the trajectory of global warming.
In the articles listed below, Smarter Cities reports on what cities today are doing to become healthier places to live, by reducing their dependence on coal and other dirty fuels. As part of our reporting, in the first half of 2010 we undertook an in depth analysis of the efforts to limit municpal demand of energy and provide clean energy. Smarter Cities surveyed city governments about the city's aggregate kilowatt hour consumption, top three fuel sources, whether it had completed a greenhouse gas inventory, energy conservation programs (including targets for reduced consumption) and processes to measure energy conservation. We identified twenty-two cities that are leading the way toward a clean, more efficient energy future - putting in place best practices, testing innovative new programs, passing model legislation, etc. These "2010 Smarter Cities/Top Energy Performers" are described in the stories listed below, each containing links to our energy toolkit which is loaded with useful information that other municipalities wanting to reduce their energy demand and provide clean energy may find helpful. A summary of our findings, including a description of the data collection and analysis process, can be found in the article below, titled American Cities Get Smart about Energy.
Twenty-two U.S. cities have been named "2010 Smarter Cities" for their investment in green power, energy efficiency measures and conservation by the Natural Resources Defense...
Credit: Adrian World/FlickrUrban heat island effect takes a toll on Austin: In the middle of the summer, ubiquitous air conditioners dump heat outdoors while black-topped...
Credit: KLINX/FlickrIt’s not just its proximity to green superstar Portland that makes Beaverton, Oregon, an energy leader. To be sure, it benefits from, for example,...
Mayor Tom Bates created Berkeley FIRST—the first program of its kind in the world—to allow residents to pay for solar installations as a voluntary long-term assessment...
In 2005, Local 103 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers installed the first commercial-scale wind turbine in Boston. All IBEW 103 apprentice...
Credit: Professor Bop/FlickrThe sun shines often on Florida, a fact that gave it bragging rights on license plates with the nickname, the “Sunshine State.” The northern...
Credit: Chicago Convention and Tourism BureausWhen it launched in September 2008, the Chicago Climate Action Plan was one of the country’s most comprehensive, aggressive...
Credit: CodyDean/FlickrEnvironmental reforms in Columbus, Ohio began in earnest in 2005, with the release of the city’s greenhouse gas analysis and the launch of a policy...
Photovoltaics at Trinity River Audubon Center. Credit: Kevin Lefebvre One of the top municipal purchasers of renewable energy in the country, Dallas purchases a full 40...
Credit: Rich Anderson/FlickrAs a small city in a big state, Denton often struggles for priority in state and federal funding for environmental projects—but it also gets...
Credit: Mike Willis/FlickrDubuque, Iowa's city government has made a greener future a top priority for several years, but now they’re reaching out to citizens,...
Credit: Hectore/FlickrWith 302 days of unadulterated sun each year, it comes as no surprise that El Paso (aka “Sun City”), Texas is aggressively pursuing onsite solar...
Credit: photokayaker/FlickrDespite a 5 percent growth in population, Fort Collins, Colorado’s annual greenhouse gas emissions haven’t increased since 2005, thanks in...
Credit: jcookfisher/FlickrKnown as “Surf City”, for its 8.5 miles of beaches and ideal waves, Huntington Beach can now add “NRDC 2010 Smarter City” to its list of...
Credit: Kevin Dooley/FlickrLong Beach is joining the front lines in the fight against global warming, releasing its first greenhouse gas emissions inventory in 2009 and...
The Electric Power Research Institute has estimated that power from tides and currents could generate 3,000 megawatts of power. In 2008, Verdant Power deployed these...
Credit: City of OaklandOakland has attracted nationwide attention for its efforts to couple solutions to poverty and environmental problems. “We believe in a...
Credit: OPowerEvery morning, shortly after waking up, Bill Rowan checks to see how much electricity he used the night before.“I really want to cut my energy bills...
Credit: Conlawprof/FlickrPortland, Oregon—long a green frontrunner—has been named an NRDC Smarter City for its energy conservation programs and green energy production...
Reno, Nevada is known for its casinos and quick divorces, but this city at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas also has a flourishing green energy sector. In addition to a number of...
Credit: Mischiru/Flickr San Francisco’s dense urban core, located on the tip of a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay, translates into energy savings when it comes to...
Credit: Alkiol/FlickrSanta Clarita, California has a commitment to clean energy and conservation that is already making its mark: The city’s latest energy consumption...
Credit: Martapiqs/Flickr In Santa Cruz, the residents are a powerful resource for preventing emissions of heat-trapping pollutants. Since 1996, emissions associated with...
Credit: Elephant Wearing Striped Pants/FlickrWet climate and Jimi Hendrix aside, Seattle is known for its ahead-of-the-curve energy conservation and production...
Credit: Giant Ginko/FlickrThe smart grid, long past due, is getting closer to becoming a reality. In a digital age, where smart phones and other gadgets ensure we’re...
Illinois Capitol Building in Springfield Credit: Aka Keith/FlickrWhile Chicago has received more coverage for its green roof effort and its climate action plan, the...
Credit: danishwindindustryassociation/FlickrLook out your window on a commercial flight across West Texas and you’ll enjoy plenty of clear views of the American landscape...
When voters passed the indoor smoking ban in November 2006, Ohio became the first Midwestern state and the first tobacco-growing state to outlaw smoking in public buildings,...
Arvada is constructing solar energy capacity at its water treatment plant in partnership with SunEdison, and will be the first city in Colorado to have a system of this size run...
July 2010 Update: Austin has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.One major advantage in climate change protection that Austin, Texas, has over other cities...
Situated on Bellingham Bay at the northern end of the Puget Sound, Bellingham is both a university town and an industrial center, home to an aging pulp mill owned until 2001 by...
July 2010 Update: Berkeley has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article. Berkeley, just across the Bay from San Francisco, has always been a city of green...
February 2011 Update: Boston has been named a 2011 Smarter City for Transportation. Boston is also a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Among large cities, Boston stands out as...
Charleston, South Carolina, has a rich cultural past, and its historic architecture is one of its chief prides. Highly protected, these buildings form the backbone of Charleston...
February 2011 Update: Chicago has been named a 2011 Smarter City for Transportation. Chicago is also a 2010 Smarter City for Energy.Home to the world's first...
Coloradans understand the value of water in their semi-arid state and there is nothing casual about their referring to it as "liquid gold." Seasonal snowmelt from the Rocky...
El Monte's electricity is provided by Southern California Edison, which obtains 16 percent of its energy from renewable sources and is the country's largest purchaser of...
July 2010 Update: El Paso, Texas has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article. In March 2007, El Paso's City Council adopted an Open Space Master Plan with the...
For cities in the overcast, mountainous Pacific Northwest, hydropower provides the most feasible form of renewable energy and Everett is no exception. The Snohomish County...
The Fall River Energy Enterprise (FREE) was started by the city’s mayor in effort to green the city, redevelop the downtown area, make it a renewable-energy leader in the region...
As one of the fastest growing metropolitan statistical areas in the country, Fayetteville, Arkansas has sought to find a way to make that growth green. Set in the moderate...
July 2010 Update: Fort Collins has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Although universities are vital to their locales, the distance between town and...
Energy in Henderson is provided by NV Energy, which has a long-term contract to obtain solar power from Nevada Solar One, the largest solar plant built anywhere in the world in...
July 2010 Update: Huntington Beach has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Two things are of paramount importance to the typical Huntington Beach...
Kansas City is serious about maintaining its good water quality, and it does so efficiently. The Water Services Department purchases 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide waste...
With close to four million residents, Los Angeles is the major player in Southern California, the world's 14th largest economy. Its municipally owned utility, the Los Angeles...
Louisville's Partnership for a Green City is a collaborative effort between the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, the University of Louisville and the Jefferson...
The capital of Wisconsin, Madison fans out from the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, providing the city with a natural landscape its citizens enjoy year-round and...
Each of the Hawaiian islands is on its own energy grid, isolated thousands of miles from the mainland. Transporting fuel for energy is expensive, and the state of Hawaii gives...
In Minneapolis, all city departments are required to incorporate sustainability guidelines into their business plans through the Environmental Coordinating Team, which was...
Founded as an industrial mill town, Nashua is refashioning its older structures into new ones that embrace the culture and history of the locale. Its brownfield remediation...
February 2011 Update: New York has been named a 2011 Smarter City for Transportation. New York is also a 2010 Smarter City for Energy.New York is a city of...
July 2010 Update: Oakland has been designated a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Long plagued by high levels of unemployment and poverty, Oakland is now working to...
Palmdale's electricity is provided by Southern California Edison, which obtains 16 percent of its energy from renewable sources and is the country's largest purchaser of green...
February 2011 Update: Portland has been named a 2011 Smarter City for Transportation. Portland is also a 2010 Smarter City for Energy.Portland's status as one...
Energy East Corporation's upstate New York subsidiaries, Rochester Gas & Electric and New York State Gas & Electric, are together ranked tenth in the country on the U.S...
As the capital of California, a state with demanding environmental requirements, Sacramento works to lead by example in the state's push to lower energy emissions, conserve...
July 2010 Update: San Francisco has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.San Francisco has long been an incubator for progressive movements, and its...
San José's Clean Tech strategy aims to get progressive businesses to move to the city, which Mayor Chuck Reed calls "fertile ground for new technologies." With an established...
Pacific Gas & Electric supplies 40 percent of California with energy, including San Ramon.
July 2010 Update: Santa Cruz has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Although much of California is known for smog, Santa Cruz County has consistently...
Santa Rosa, a gateway to California's wine country north of San Francisco, has adopted innovative energy practices—using unique sources such as algae and geysers—that have...
July 2010 Update: Seattle has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Although Seattle has a long history of environmental action, global warming has spurred...
Just west of the Idaho Rockies, Spokane straddles the Spokane River in the plains of Eastern Washington. A signatory to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection...
July 2010 Update: Springfield has been named a 2010 Smarter City for Energy. Read the article.Like many Midwestern towns, Springfield, Illinois, is faced with aging power plants,...
Tallahassee is going a long way to make its bus system, StarMetro, a popular means of transportation to get cars off the road. Florida State University and Florida A&M...
The Turlock Irrigation District is one of only four publicly owned irrigation districts in the state of California that also provides electricity to residents.
Westminster, a northwest suburb of Denver, lies in close proximity to mountains and trails. In 1985, voters approved a sales tax earmarked specifically for purchasing and...
Switch to Green Power in NYC
This website allows New York City residents and small businesses to sign up for green power in 3 easy steps.
Portland Municipal Resources
Download the City of Portland and Multnomah County Climate Action Plan 2009 (pdf), which details the cities conservation and climate change preparation initiatives.
Visit Clean Energy Works: Portland for information on financing for residential energy effiency upgrades.
See the Portland Ecoroof program for information on the city's living roof projects.
Click here for information on Portland's sustainable stormwater management efforts.
See the Portland Brownfield Program to learn about how the city is reclaiming contaminated sites for development.
El Paso Municipal Resources
Download the City of El Paso's Livable City Sustainability Plan (pdf) for the city's overall strategy to improve quality of life in El Paso.
The El Paso Solar Energy Association (EPSEA) supports the development of solar installations in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico.
Visit the El Paso Department of Sustainability for information on local sustainabiltiy initiatives.
Seattle Municipal Resources
Download the Seattle Climate Protection Initiative Progress Report 2009 (pdf) for a report on recent initiatives.
Download the 2008 Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory (pdf) for details on the city's most recent energy audit.
See the Seattle Office of Housing HomeWise program for weatherization services available to homeowners.
See the Powerful Neighborhoods program to learn about free retrofits available to South Seattle residents.
Fort Collins Municipal Resources
Download the City of Fort Collins Utilities 2009 Energy Policy (pdf), which details the utilities goals and vision for 2050.
Download the City of For Collins Utilities Electric Energy Supply Policy 2008 Annual Update (pdf), which details the city's activities and progress since the Energy Policy.
Download the 2008 Fort Collins Climate Action Plan (pdf), which outlines the city's strategic plan to meet it's 2020 goal.
Click here for information on rebates and programs available to Fort Collins residents.
Community Solar Project
The resource manager in Ellensburg, WA came up with a plan to bring solar power to the whole community. In this Q&A he provides some useful advice on everything from financing to choosing the right solar panels.
Berkeley, California Municipal Resources
To read about Berkeley's clean energy initiatives, check out the City of Berkeley official website.
San Francisco Municipal Resources
Visit San Francisco's environment department at SFenvironment.org to learn about the city's environmental programs and policies.
See GoSolarSF for information on solar installation incentives and a map of solar activity in the city of San Francisco.
San Francisco Energy Watch provides energy assessments and discounts on efficiency installations and equipment.
Dallas Municipal Resources
Download the City of Dallas Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory (pdf) for details on the city's most recent energy audit.
See the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for information on how the state is working to preserve the air, land and water in Texas.
The Dallas Office of Environmental Quality works with the city toward environmental improvements in Dallas.
Green Dallas is the city's hub for local green initiatives and information.
Boston Municipal Resources
Download the Boston Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventories (pdf) for details on the city's energy audits.
See Sparking Boston's Climate Revolution Summary Report (pdf) for Climate Action Leadership Committee and Community Advisory Committee recommendations.
Read Boston's Solar America Cities profile to learn about Boston's efforts to increase local solar energy capacity.
Visit Solar Boston for a map of solar installations in the city.
Oakland Municipal Resources
The Oakland Green Jobs Corps provides green jobs training and employment services for low-income adults in Oakland.
See the Oakland Green Building Resource Center (GBRC) for local green building support.
See Energy Upgrade California in Alameda County to learn about the program's goals and projects.
See the Oakland Sustainability Program, through the City of Oakland Public Works Program, for information on upcoming local sustainability events, recent sustainability inititatives and programs and to download Oakland Sustainable Community Development progress reports.
Columbus Municipal Resources
See Get Green Columbus for a summary of the city's sustainability efforts from 2005-2009.
Download the Columbus Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Project List (pdf) for details on how the city is using the grant.
Download the Get Green 2010 Memo (pdf) for Columbus' green action plan.
The Columbus Green Forum promotes energy efficient and environmentally sustainable building in Central Ohio.
Download the Ten Year Reform and Efficiency and Action Plan (pdf) for the city's plan reduce municipal spending.
The Ecomony, Energy and Environment (E3) program is a collaboration between local and federal governments, manufacturers and utilites working toward greener industry.
New York City Municipal Resources
Download the Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions (pdf) for information on the city's latest energy audit.
Download the PlanNYC Progress Report 2010 for a summary of the city's green acheivements to date.
See New York City's Greener, Greater Buildings Plan for details on the city's strategies for improving energy efficiency in existing buildings.
See New York City's Solar America Cities profile to learn about what New York is doing to increase solar energy capacity in the city.
Austin Municipal Resources
Download the Austin Climate Protection Plan 2009 Annual Report for details on the city's progress.
Visit CoolAustin.org to learn about the city's efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Click here to learn about the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Project in Austin.
Click here to learn about Austin's Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance.
Chicago Municipal Resources
See the Chicago Climate Action Plan for comprehensive details on the city's carbon reduction initiatives and for information on what businesses and residents can do to help.
Chicago's Climate Action Plan Progress Report 2008-2009 provides an update on the the first two years of city's efforts.
The Chicago Green Office Challenge is a friendly competition designed to inspire office tenants and property managers to conserve energy in office buildings.
The City of Chicago Environment Department liasons with other city departments, state agencies and nonprofits to develop and enforce environmental codes and regulations.
Long Beach Municipal Resources
Download the Sustainable Long Beach Sustainable City Action Plan for details on the city's conservation goals and strategies.
Visit the Long Beach Office of Sustainability to read about the city's efforts to implement renewable energy.
See the 5th District Solar & Sustainability Task Force for information on the group's activity including meeting dates and agendas.
Berkeley Municipal Resources
Berkeley FIRST provides financing for local solar installations.
See berkeleyclimateaction.org for a pdf of the Berkeley Climate Action Plan and an executive summary of the city's progress.
See the Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development for information on energy efficiency programs, rebates and resources.
Huntington Beach Municipal Resources
Click here for information on rebates for upgrading to water-saving fixtures and appliances in Huntington Beach.
Click here for building energy efficiency standards in Hungtington Beach.
Santa Clarita Municipal Resources
Click here for information on the Community Energy Partnership (CEP), a coalition working toward effective energy efficiency programs in the seven participating Southern California cities.
Click here for information on energy efficiency rebates available to Southern California residents.
Santa Cruz Municipal Resources
Click here for information on the Climate Action Program in Santa Cruz.
Click here for the City of Santa Cruz Green Building Program.
Visit 30x20.org to join a Climate Action Team in Santa Cruz and pledge to reduce your carbon emissions.
Beaverton Municipal Resources
Click here for a map of green projects underway in Beaverton.
Click here for information on the launch of Solar Beaverton, a pilot program providing solar incentives to 50 homeowners in Beaverton.
Sustainable Beaverton provides information on the city's most recent conservation initiatives.
Denton Municipal Resources
Click here for information on energy efficiency rebates in Denton.
Download the final report of the Texas REConnect project, which considered how Texas utlities respond to requests for net metering and interconnecting small renewable energy generators.
Energy: Smart Grids
Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Database of Solar Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (lists some FIT programs), Department of Energy
Gainesville Regional Utilities feed-in-tariff documents
Sacramento Municipal Utility District FIT page
Text of the Vermont Energy Act of 2009 (H. 446) (pdf)
A Policy Maker's Guide to Feed-in Tariff Design, produced by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (pdf)
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