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The Office of Sustainability presented an overview of the city's progress and pathways to 100% clean electricity goals to Louisville Metro Council at City Hall.
On July 24, 2025 during the Metro Council Parks and Sustainability Committee meeting, the Office of Sustainability (OS) and Office of Facilities and Fleet were invited to present an overview of Louisville Metro Government’s progress and potential pathways towards achieving its goal of 100% clean electricity by 2030.
Watch the recording and transcript of the meeting (presentation starts at approximately 20:00 minutes).
On July 4, 2025, the Trump administration signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, putting a timetable on many of the tax credit opportunities created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, including tax credits for residential solar (Residential Clean Energy Credit), which can cover up to 30% of your project costs depending on tax liability.
To access the credit, homeowners will need to have solar installed no later than December 31, 2025, at which point the opportunity will expire.
Please review additional incentive changes for commercial, residential, and electric vehicle (EV) programs below and reach out to sustainability@louisvilleky.gov with any questions.
OBBBA Energy Incentive Changes: Commercial
OBBBA Energy Incentive Changes: Residential
OBBBA Energy Incentive Changes: Electric Vehicles
Solarize Louisville is open for the 2025 season!
In August, 2025 Solarize Louisville installers Daily Green Power & Pure Power Solar will host a series of in-person Solar 101 workshops in Louisville’s surrounding counties. The workshops will break down the solar installation process, address resident questions, and detail why solar is a strong investment while federal tax credits are still available.
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in attending a Solar 101 workshop, please register at one of the following links below!
Saturday, August 9 with Pure Power Solar
Shelby County Library, Carnegie Center
731 College Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065
11:00 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, August 16 with Daily Green Power
Bullitt County Library, Central Branch
740 Conestoga Parkway, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
11:00 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, August 23 with Pure Power Solar
Oldham County Library, Goshen Branch
3000 Paramount Commons, Prospect, KY 40059
11:00 a.m. – Noon
To better understand your home’s potential for solar, you can get a free, no-pressure quote from one of our vetted installers today at SolarizeLouisville.com.
Louisville Metro has partnered with Energize Kentucky to expand the EPAD program.
On June 3, OS, in partnership with Energize Kentucky, hosted a free workshop detailing Louisville’s Energy Project Assessment District (EPAD) program, a commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) financing tool, which provides low-cost, long-term financing options for both new construction and existing commercial building that improves the energy efficiency, water efficiency, or renewable performance of projects.
The Office of Sustainability provides incentives to property owners of $1 per square foot of cool roof installed.
The Office of Sustainability (OS) manages Louisville Metro Government’s Cool Roof Incentive Program, a rebate program for residents and businesses in Metro Louisville purchasing cool roof products. The incentive provides a $1/SF rebate for cool roof installed, up to $2,000.00 for residential properties and $5,000 for flat-roof commercial properties (Steep-sloped commercial roofs can claim up to $10,000 in Cool Roof Incentives).
Please note that buildings zoned commercial for short-term rental or other residential use, despite their zoning category, will be considered residential buildings when submitted for Cool Roof Incentive consideration, and therefore an incentive cap of $2,000.
Solar Reflectivity Requirements
Steep Slope roofs must have an initial solar reflectance of >=0.24. After 3 years, the solar reflectance must be >=0.15.
Not all materials listed on the CRRC website have the solar reflectance we require for this incentive. Please check if the selected roofing product meets the Solar Reflectance Requirements listed above. You are welcome to confirm with OS if your product complies before your purchase it.
Mia Treinen completed her summer internship with the OS.
The OS enjoyed hosting Mia Treinen as the summer intern! During her six short weeks, Mia made significant contributions to our team including updating our Solarize Louisville, Cool Roof, and EPAD maps and dashboards with the latest data, enhancing our sustainability pitch deck with compelling research and storytelling about the sustainability history of Louisville, developing ideas for better youth engagement, creating content for newsletter and social media, and participating in several Office of Sustainability meetings and events, offering helpful support and input.
Join the OS during an academic internship at Louisville Metro Hall!
The OS is also excited to welcome an Academic Intern for the Fall and Spring semesters! An Academic Internship is an unpaid internship opportunity for students enrolled in a college or university who are receiving college credit for their internship. This opportunity is open to both Undergraduate and Graduate students. We encourage you to contact your university or other outside organizations to see if they can provide alternative funding sources to be compensated for your internship with us. The duration of and weekly commitment (in hours) to the internship is determined by your academic institution's requirements. We are seeking self-motivated individuals with an interest in Sustainability, Environmental Science, or related fields. All are welcome to apply, not restricted by major or minor. Must be 18+ and willing to submit a background check.
If you are interested, please send a resume and detailed cover letter to sustainability@louisvilleky.gov or contact us for more information. Use subject line: [First and Last name] Student Internship Inquiry [Fall or Spring] [year].
We are accepting inquiries and applications until August 7 for the fall semester and on a rolling basis for the spring semesters.
ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability
Alex Herrin from the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability presented to an ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) cohort of local government representatives on how to calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from purchased goods & services. Alex’s work on calculating these emissions for Louisville Metro Government is viewed as a model by ICLEI, the foremost authority on municipal GHG emissions accounting, and will be using his methodology to assist local governments nationwide in calculating their emissions. Cities around the world, including Louisville, annually report their GHG emissions as a way to track progress towards meeting emission reduction targets.
While most city operations track only their direct emissions, Louisville has decided to track its indirect emissions, which includes the GHG emissions from their supply chain (purchased goods and services). These emissions can be harder to track but have been shown to be a significant contributor to overall emissions. By quantifying the emissions of purchased goods & services, a municipality or organization can see the impact of reduced GHG emissions by making more sustainable procurement choices.
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Waste Management District Grant Program
The Louisville Waste Management District provides grants to qualifying entities in Louisville/Jefferson County. The purpose of the District grants is to support and incentivize entities in Louisville/Jefferson County to develop and implement innovative programs and services that align with the District’s mission and/or specific actions outlined in the Plan. These grants aim to promote sustainable waste management practices, reduce waste generation, and enhance recycling and composting efforts. By funding initiatives that adhere to the District’s goals, the grants seek to foster a cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally responsible community.
Learn more and apply by Thursday, August 28.
Business Outreach
The kNOw Waste Louisville Education Department has launched an outreach initiative with local businesses, offering free waste audits and consultations to address any waste-related concerns. The mission of this program is to support the shift toward more environmentally conscious practices, such as adopting recycling programs, switching to reusable containers, and minimizing plastic usage.
Contact the kNOw Waste Louisville Education Department team to get started.
Department of Codes and Regulations
The Louisville Metro Council Planning and Zoning Committee has unanimously approved the proposed Clear Boarding Ordinance, marking a major step forward in the city’s efforts to address vacant and abandoned properties. If passed by the full Metro Council, the ordinance will require all at-risk vacant and abandoned properties to be properly secured—ideally using clear boarding.
The goal of the pilot program was to evaluate the costs and savings associated with clear boarding, while also testing improved interagency coordination. The results have been overwhelmingly positive. A total of 53 properties were secured using clear boards. Of those, 12 experienced initial break-ins—but none were broken into a second time. The Louisville Fire Department reported a 66% reduction in fire-related costs and a 63% decrease in vacant structure fires, which translated into an estimated $93,000 in savings.
Learn more about how Louisville Metro Codes & Regulations is securing vacant and abandoned properties.
Plastic Free July Movie Night at Trellis Brewing brought in around 50 spectators to watch We're All Plastic People Now, an Emmy winning documentary about the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and human health. Thank you to our partners at Beyond Plastics Louisville and the Louisville Water Company for a screening at Trellis Brewing. Trellis generously pledged one dollar for every beverage purchased that evening to benefit the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, an organization committed to protecting, restoring, and celebrating Kentucky's waterways.
More Plastic Free July events and stories @SustainLouisville.
Alberta O. Jones Park Day (Photo from Parks Alliance of Louisville Facebook)
Alberta O. Jones Park Day, hosted by the Parks Alliance of Louisville, was a great opportunity to share sustainability with a crowd enjoying live music, yoga, lawn games, good food, and great vibes in the park!
CycLOUvia on Frankfort Ave
The OS had a blast at CycLOUvia on Frankfort Ave with everyone walking, cycling, skateboarding, or dancing in the street. CycLOUvia repurposes busy city streets by temporarily replacing traditional vehicular traffic with pedestrian traffic. Streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can come to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Mia and Alex shared sips and sustainability info at the Frazier Beer Fest!
Sustainability and beer went hand in hand at Frazier Beer Fest. With over 200 specialty beers, food, live music, and Kentucky pride spilling over with each tasting, Frazier Beer Fest is one of the largest beer-tasting events in Kentucky. Mia and Alex enjoyed serving sips and sharing sustainability information!
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Brightside Louisville is hosting a Sweep and Sip at Monnick Brewing on Saturday, August 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Make new friends, enjoy a beverage, pick up litter!
- Are you interested to learn more about zoning in Louisville Metro and why it matters? The next Office of Planning Zoning Matter Info Session will be held on Tuesday, August 5 at Iroquois Library from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The following one will be held at South Central Regional Library on Tuesday, August 19.
- Join Louisville Tool Library to learn How to Make Ice Cream on Saturday, August 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All funds from this event will go to Midwest Pages to Prisoners, who provide free reading materials to incarcerated people in the Midwest.
- New to Lou? Waste & Recycling 101 is a new class hosted by kNOw Waste Louisville for people who are new to Louisville and want to learn more about how waste is managed and properly disposed. Join online the second Tuesday of the month to learn the basics of waste disposal and recycling in Louisville at the first class on Tuesday, August 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is supporting the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to host a free Chemical Hazard Communication Course in August and September. This course will give participants a basic understanding of hazardous chemicals and the concepts and vocabulary to express concerns, particularly as they relate to hazardous materials incidents.
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Parks & Rec. Supervisor I, Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation (Full-Time)
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Geographic Information Systems Analyst I, Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation (Full-Time)
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Operations Energy & Sustainability Specialist, GE Appliances (Full-Time)
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Tax Senior - Sustainability - Renewable Energy, Deloitte (Full-Time)
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Senior Manager - Energy Credits, Cherry Bekaert (Full-Time)
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Environmental Engineer, BlueOval SK (Full-Time)
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Executive Director, Passionist Earth & Spirit Center (Full-Time)
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Administrative Specialist Senior, Kentucky Proud (Full-Time)
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Solid Waste Education Spec P/T, Public Works (Part-Time)
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Graphic Designer, Bernheim Forest & Arboretum (Part-Time)
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Youth Community Agriculture Program (YCAP) Peer Mentors and Crew Members, Food Literacy Project (Seasonal)
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Louisville launches 'Plastic Free July' to tackle plastic waste with community action (WHAS 11, July 1)
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Plastic is trashing Louisville and our bodies. Join 'Plastic Free July' movement. | Letter (Courier Journal, July 12)
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Residents voice concerns over data center, energy costs in south Louisville (WLKY, July 14)
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'A scar.' | Bernheim plans wildflower meadow over controversial LG&E pipeline (WHAS 11, July 24)
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Data center forecasts drive LG&E push for new power plants. Is that demand realistic? (Louisville Public Media, July 14)
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What Trump’s Anti-Environment One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Your Wallet, Health, and Safety (Center For American Progress, July 7)
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‘Setting a New Standard’: $40M Facility in Kentucky to Convert Buffalo Trace Bourbon Waste Into Feed, Fertilizer (Bottle Raiders, July 15)
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