Energy

Energy

Changing how we produce and consume energy provides one of the best opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create a more resilient community. By replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy options, such as solar and wind, Our City can leapfrog other cities across the nation as a leader on climate action.

GHG Emissions from Energy Generation

The Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are essential to life on Earth as they provide a “blanket” in our atmosphere that traps heat and regulates the Earth’s temperature. GHGs are released naturally in our environment for this very reason. However, when we burn fossil fuels to power our homes, businesses, and automobiles and place material in our landfill to decompose, we increase the level of greenhouse gases. This increase in gases has essentially created a much thicker “blanket”, making it harder for heat to release, reducing in higher global temperatures that have led to disruptions in the Earth’s climate.

UNIT	Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e).	MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e).		MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Generation

Renewable energy sources are those which naturally replenish in a short time. The most common are solar and wind. Using these “clean” energy resources as opposed to coal and oil, improves local air quality and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. Our City has already made commitments to renewable energy and as of 2017, 7% of all energy generated through our largest energy provider was from renewable sources. The goal for 2025 is 25% of all energy generated is from renewable sources. By 2050, we aim for 100% from renewable sources.

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Goal

In 2016, 7% of all energy generated in Our City came from renewable sources. Of that, 76% was from wind and 24% from solar. By 2025, Our City is striving to have 20% of its energy come from renewable sources. Click on the year buttons to compare our data and goal.

2016 Renewable Sources

Renewable Sources = 7%

2016 Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels = 93%

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Mix

Of the 8% of energy from renewable sources, 65% are from wind, 34% from solar, and 1% from landfill gas.

Residential Solar

In 2019, the City adopted an ordinance which incorporated new statewide residential solar requirements into our local building code. To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from residential electricity use even further, the City's green building ordinance requires solar PV installations as part of new and remodeled multi-family home construction. These requirements support the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) goal to install 400 kW and 1,000 kW of additional residential solar by 2020 and 2030 on new construction, respectively.

Over the past several years, many residents have voluntarily installed solar panels on their homes. Residential solar PV systems typically range in size from 5 to 20 kW per home. Between 2012 and 2020, a cumulative total of 25,596 kW of solar was installed on 3,924 homes. In 2020 alone, 4,123 kW of solar was installed on residential properties.