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This is a home of a 2022 Solarize Louisville participant.
Earlier this week during the Mayor's weekly press conference, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the launch of the 2024 Solarize Louisville program. In attendance of the announcement were Solarize Louisville partners Mayor's Office of Sustainability, Kentucky Solar Energy Society (KYSES), and the Louisville Sustainability Council as well as the two installers, Icon Solar and Pure Power Solar. Cindi Sullivan, Executive Director of Trees Louisville, as well as Michael Hicks, a homeowner who has gone solar through the program, also joined to speak about their experiences with solar power.
A Solarize Louisville 2023 participant, Michael Hicks, joins Mayor Greenberg and the Solarize team to share his experience with solar.
Both Icon Solar and Pure Power Solar are offering the same standard panel price along with an 12-18% discount, ensuring that participants receive the best possible value for their investment in solar energy. With the unfortunate rise of predatory solar companies in the region, Solarize Louisville seeks to protect consumers who are interested in investing in clean energy.
In addition to these significant savings, participants in the Solarize Louisville program are also eligible for a 30% tax credit through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, further reducing the cost of transitioning to clean, renewable energy.
The Solarize Louisville program is open to all homeowners in Louisville/Jefferson County and surrounding counties, including Jefferson, Oldham, Spencer, Shelby, and Bullitt counties in Kentucky, as well as Harrison, Floyd, and Clark counties in Indiana.
The Solarize Louisville team will be hosting in-person and virtual workshops where you can learn more about installing solar on your property. The details for the first two workshops are below:
Solarize Louisville Workshop with Icon Solar
Location: LFPL Main Library, 301 York St, Louisville, KY 40203 (in-person in the Board Room)
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time: 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Register for the workshop here.
Solarize Louisville Workshop with Pure Power Solar
Location: Webex (virtual)
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Register for the workshop here.
To learn more about Solarize Louisville and take the first step toward transitioning to renewable energy, visit www.solarizelouisville.com.
 In a collaboration with the Parks Alliance of Louisville, Beargrass Thunder, and Louisville Youth Build, the Office of Sustainability is hosting an Earth Day of Service planting native pollinators and picking up litter at Alberta O. Jones Park!
Community organizations and partners are welcome to table and share information about their sustainability and environmental conservation efforts. Mayor Craig Greenberg will kick off the event with a summary of Louisville Metro Government's recent sustainability projects.
Date: Friday, April 19
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Alberta O. Jones Park at 744 S 23rd St, Louisville, KY 40211 (Google Maps directions)
Register to volunteer here.
Register to host a table for your organization at the resource fair here.
The Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), phase one of the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), has been submitted. We appreciate everyone who participated in a variety of ways and helped shape this plan. The final version of the PCAP has been submitted to the EPA and can be accessed here: Climate Action and Resilience Plans | LouisvilleKY.gov.
Our core project team is developing the second phase of the EPA CPRG, the Implementation Plan, and will be submitting it by April 1. Under advisement from our team's grant writers, we have adapted the Implementation Plan to streamline the application based on efforts that would best fit the criteria.
We will host a virtual community meeting on Friday, April 12 at noon to discuss next steps for the Regional Priority Climate Action Plan.
Join the meeting on April 12 using this link.
On March 28, Trees Louisville, Louisville Metro Government, and Urban Canopy LLC announced the development of Louisville's Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP), a strategic plan to improve a community's urban forest. An urban forest refers to all the trees in a city's boundary, whether they are in a city owned park, a privately owned home, or anywhere else. The amount of land shaded by trees is referred to as the tree canopy. In Louisville, 39% of the city is shaded by trees. Learn more about Louisville's tree canopy.
Graphic from the Louisville Tree Plan website: https://www.louisvilletreeplan.org/about-louisville-trees.html
The UFMP is created by assessing the current health and distribution of Louisville's trees and by engaging with residents, stakeholders, and the community at large to determine needs, set goals, and provide recommendations for the steps needed to achieve those goals.
Learn more about the UFMP process and how to get involved!
On March 19, Air Pollution Control District (APCD) joined Mayor Craig Greenberg to award a package of electric lawn equipment to the Parks Alliance of Louisville through the APCD’s Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Community Equipment Grant.
The switch from gasoline to electric-powered lawn equipment improves local air quality and reduces emissions that contribute to climate change. The equipment grant aims to expand and encourage the use of cleaner, more sustainable equipment while also supporting the greenspace maintenance needs of non-profit organizations in Louisville.
The equipment package, which includes a mower, blower, string trimmer, and extra rechargeable battery, will be used for maintenance at Alberta O. Jones Park in the California neighborhood.
Mayor Greenberg shares remarks about the Lawn Care for Cleaner Air grant
"The Parks Alliance is a champion for environmental justice in communities hurt by extreme urban heat and poor air quality by reimagining our public parks. Alberta O. Jones Park is a testament to our commitment." said President & CEO Brooke Pardue. "This wonderful Lawn Care for Cleaner Air grant enables us to utilize electric lawn equipment thereby reducing emissions and demonstrating how public parks can be maintained in a sustainable way.”
On November 17, 2023, the Parks Alliance of Louisville opened phase one of the Alberta O. Jones Park in the California Neighborhood. Phase one is five acres of what will ultimately be a 20-acre park in the heart of the city. Unlike other public parks in Louisville, this one will be managed and maintained by the Parks Alliance of Louisville.
The Parks Alliance will employ a park superintendent to oversee programming and maintenance of the park. Currently, the Alliance does not own any equipment, so these items will assist with ensuring the park grounds are safe, manicured, and looking nice.
The Parks Alliance team poses with new lawncare equipment
Tree planting volunteers pose for a photo
Urban Forestry hosted a tree planting volunteer event in the California neighborhood earlier this month. With the help of Urban Forestry staff, 50 volunteers planted 85 trees to benefit the environment and community. Urban Forestry continues its mission to plant, maintain, and restore trees in Louisville.
Urban Forestry will continue to host new tree planting and pruning events throughout the year! Sign up to volunteer at using the online volunteer portal.
Councilman Jecorey Arthur and other tree planting volunteers pose by a newly planted tree
 Join Bluegrass Greensource for a Sustainability Summit on Wednesday, April 10 at the University of Kentucky's Gatton Student Center. The summit will explore the work of regional leaders in sustainability and will be an opportunity to connect with grassroots changemakers through a series of panelists (including the Office of Sustainability Director, Sumedha Rao), speed networking sessions, and exhibitors.
Register to attend or register your business as an exhibitor at Bluegrass Greensource Sustainability Summit - Neon Events.
For questions or more information, please contact Rachel Skinner at rachel.skinner@bggreensource.org.
 Join Change Today, Change Tomorrow State of Black Food Summit hosted on Saturday, April 13 from 8:00am-5:00pm. The Summit will address food security and justice for Black families, bringing together Black individuals, community leaders, and organizations that are passionate about creating equitable access to healthy and culturally relevant food.
Key Highlights:
- Engaging sessions and exercises focused on food security and justice
- Networking opportunities with passionate individuals and organizations
- Collaboration to develop actionable strategies and goals
- Insights from expert speakers and community leaders
- Opportunity to be part of a transformative movement
Register here: The State of Black Food Summit: Food Security for Black People Tickets | Eventbrite
April is Earth Month, which means there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in environmental events and activities! Please see more upcoming events below:
- On April 6, Louisville Metro Council District 15 Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell is hosting an all-day Building Our Block event to restore the Lucky Horseshoe neighborhood through projects such as tree planting, home repair, street safety improvements, beautification, and more from 10 AM - 2 PM. Learn more and register to volunteer at Lucky Horseshoe Neighborhood B.O.B. | LouisvilleKY.gov.
- The next Green Drinks event hosted by the Louisville Sustainability Council will be hosted on April 10 from 6:00-8:00pm at The Cafe with sponsor Brown Forman. Learn more and register at Green Drinks — Louisville Sustainability Council.
- TreeFest 2024 will be held on April 13 from 11:00am-3:00pm at Petersburg Park. Join Louisville Parks & Recreation and TreesLouisville to learn about the roles that trees play in our everyday life through volunteer opportunities, live music, eco-friendly vendors and much more. Apply to be a vendor today at https://www.treeslouisville.org/treefest.
- Brightside and Waste Management are hosting a Spring Community-Wide Cleanup on April 13. Volunteers can register at Brightside & WM Community-Wide Cleanup | LouisvilleKY.gov.
- Brightside is also hosting Sip & Sweep events on April 13 at 11:00am at Gallant Fox Brewing Co. and April 14 at 2:00pm at the Old Louisville Brewery. Register here: Brightside Louisville Sweep & Sip | LouisvilleKY.gov
- Beyond Plastics Louisville is hosting screening of the documentary “Blue Vinyl,” an Emmy-award winning documentary uncovering the environmental, health and environmental justice impacts of vinyl chloride, on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30pm at the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center. More info here: Free Screening of "Blue Vinyl" | Facebook.
- The UofL Environme Insititute is hosting a Climate and Health Summit Community Event on April 16 at 6:00pm. Attend for a short reception followed by an insightful discussion focused on the impact of climate change on human health. Register at Climate and Health Summit Community Event Tickets, Tue, Apr 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite.
- An all-day Community Earth Day hosted by the Southern Indiana Citizens' Climate Lobby celebration with yoga, tree giveaways, and other family activities will be held in Downtown New Albany on April 20 starting at 9:00am.
- Bernheim Forest is hosting the annual RESTORE event with the theme "Healthy Planet, Healthy You" on April 20 from 10:00am-2:00pm. Learn more at RESTORE: Healthy Planet, Healthy You - Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.
- The Louisville Zoo will host an Earth Day celebration as part of their "Party for the Planet" event series on April 21 during which zoogoers can enjoy $5 off general Zoo admission and free parking. Apply to be an Earth Day Eco-Partner Exhibitor here: 2024 Earth Day Eco-Partner Exhibitor Application Survey (surveymonkey.com).
- Waterfront Botanical Gardens is hosting an all-day Earth Day event on April 22. The event features a special conversation on how you can prevent and reduce food waste presented by Karen Maynard of the Louisville Metro Government Department of Public Works and followed by kids activities, a neighborhood trash pickup, and more! Register at Earth Day 2024 - Waterfront Botanical Gardens (waterfrontgardens.org).
- Mayor announces Solarize Louisville program in effort to increase sustainability (via WLKY)
- Louisville Metro offers solar panel installs at discounted rates (via Louisville Public Media)
- Climate-denying House committee chair wants Kentucky to be a fossil fuel ‘sanctuary state' (via Louisville Public Media)
- Billion-dollar hydropower facility being built in Bell County (via WHAS11)
- Kentucky’s last doctor diagnosing black lung claims for the state (via Louisville Public Media)
- Louisville named 7th top U.S. city with the worst drivers (via WHAS11)
- Ryan Van Velzer is Kentucky Public Radio's new managing editor (via Louisville Public Media)
- Kentucky sues the EPA over strengthened particle pollution standards (via Louisville Public Media)
- Kentucky House resolution would command state to defy EPA on air pollution from coal, gas (via Courier Journal)
- As water system sees improvements, residents of Eastern Kentucky county still don’t trust it (via Lexington Herald Leader)
- FEMA approves nearly $1.4M for 1st step in replacing Mayfield city hall, police department destroyed by tornado (via WAVE3)
- New scorecard rates nation’s grid managers on connecting renewables (via Kentucky Lantern)
- Climate Change: A Change in Our Health feat. Meteorologist Tawana Andrew (via KET: Kentucky Health)
- Here's how a new federal prison could impact environment, economy in eastern Kentucky (via Louisville Public Media)
- NW Indiana to benefit from federal zero-emission freight corridor plan (via The Times of Northwest Indiana)
- Transportation officials asking how Kentuckians would use passenger train service if Amtrak returns (via WDRB - take the survey here!)
- Stresses of farm life taking toll on farmers' mental health. What's being done to help? (via Courier Journal)
- Addressing Methane Emissions in Appalachia (via Ohio River Valley Institute)
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