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September 2025

Building a more sustainable, resilient and equitable Waco.

It was really disappointing to find out that the Solar For All grant program that we were just starting to roll out was terminated by the federal administration. Solar power has become the cheapest form of energy across the globe and installing rooftop solar on Waco homes would have saved many hundreds of dollars a year for families that struggle to pay their bills. There are still some programs available that help people in urgent need pay their utility bills, but Solar For All would have provided help for the life of the solar panels (guaranteed for at least 25 years).

The federal administration also recently passed a bill that ends the tax credits for a number of clean energy products and services (like solar and electric vehicles). Some of these credits expire at the end of this month and some expire at the end of the year. HERE is a good resource that will show you all the deadlines.

If you haven't registered for the Green Communities Conference, do it now! And if you can, sign up to volunteer. Hope to see you there in a couple weeks.

Cheers,

Eric Coffman
Sustainability Programs Manager
ericc@wacotx.gov

Tackling the Climate Crisis

Volunteer at the Green Communities Conference

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! There are lots of roles for anyone interested in volunteering at this year's Green Communities Conference. You can help with pre-conference setup or morning registration or be a room moderator. We especially need volunteers who can speak Spanish. This year's Green Communities Conference is Wed, Sept 17th - Thu, Sept 18th at the Waco Convention Center.

Preventing Waste & Pollution

Recycle your Styrofoam this Saturday, September 6

There's a drive-thru Styrofoam recycling event hosted by Waco Friends of the Climate this Saturday, September 6 from 9am-1pm in the parking lot at the corner of Valley Mills & Waco Drive, near Ocean Buffet. ALL Styrofoam accepted except peanuts.

Let us know where you see Waste & Pollution

The MyWaco app is a free and easy-to-use tool that connects you to City of Waco services. With the app, you can quickly submit service requests for a variety of issues like code violations, potholes, streetlight outages, and more! When you submit a request, it's automatically routed to the correct department for attention, and we'll keep you updated every step of the way.

The MyWaco app is available for Apple and Android phones and on the web!

In the Community

Waco Run 4 Hunger September 6

The Waco Run 4 Hunger 5K / Fun Run is presented by Family of Faith Worship Center and is a family-friendly event to raise awareness of food insecurity in Waco. It's taking place at the Waco ISD Stadium on Saturday, September 6 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Pet Circle is Celebrating One Year

Join the City of Waco at 2032 Circle Road on Saturday, September 6th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate Pet Circle Regional Animal Center's first birthday with a community party you won’t want to miss!

Pet Circle is marking one amazing year of lifesaving work with a day packed full of family-friendly activities:

• Giveaways & snacks
• Storytime for kids
• Dunking booth fun
• Face painting & balloon animals
• Brand-new merchandise
•  And so much more!

The best part? FREE adoptions all weekend long – because what better way to celebrate than helping a pet find their forever home? This milestone wouldn’t be possible without your support, and they can’t wait to celebrate and kick off the next chapter with you!

Volunteer for Pre-Ironman Cleanup

In partnership with Waco Sports Commission, join Keep Waco Beautiful for a pre-Ironman Waco river cleanup, preparing the Brazos River for the upcoming race! Join us for a unique cleanup event at Indian Spring Park on Saturday, September 27th, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Upcoming Events

Waco Downtown Farmers Market

SATURDAY MORNINGS, 9am-1pm, 200 E. Bridge St.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 5-8pm, 200 E. Bridge St.
The Wednesday evening Waco Downtown Farmers Market is back again (through October 1) at the Bridge Street Pavilion which is also the same location as the Saturday morning market. Check out the Saturday morning lineup through September:

• SEPTEMBER 6: WEEKLY WELLNESS LAUNCH! Music: Patrick Shade Band. Wellness: The Muscle Cave. Junior League of Waco. Cameron Park Zoo.
• SEPTEMBER 13: BAYLOR FAMILY WEEKEND. Music: Jimmy Swagg Duo. Wellness: Orangetheory. Master Gardeners. Waco Mammoth Site. Waco Pet Circle.
• SEPTEMBER 20: ART ON ELM FESTIVAL. Music: Eric & Thomas. Wellness: FXL Foundational Fitness. Suicide Prevention Info Booth.

Waco Friends of the Climate Styrofoam Recycling Drive

SEPTEMBER 6, 9am-1pm, Corner of Valley Mills & Waco Dr.
Drive-thru Styrofoam recycling by Waco Friends of the Climate. September 6, 2025, 9am-1pm, in the parking lot at the corner of Valley Mills & Waco Drive, near Ocean Buffet. ALL Styrofoam accepted except peanuts. Questions: anorthc@aol.com

MPO Citizens' Participation Work Group Meeting

SEPTEMBER 10, 10-11am, Waco-McLennan Central Library, 1717 Austin Ave
Join the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) for this workgroup meeting to consider demographic changes in McLennan County, its effect on participatory planning and environmental justice, and make recommendations on how to enhance participation in the development of the MPO's future long range transportation plans, referred to as Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTP).

Discovery Activity: Upcycled Birdfeeders

SEPTEMBER 10-13, During open hours at Urban REAP, 1509 N 15th St.
Come make a home for our avian neighbors! We will be making birdhouses at Urban Reap using all recycled materials. Bring your used cartons and we will have all the supplies to turn it into a beautiful home for our feathered friends. Our Discovery Activities are free and family-friendly DIY activities available the second week of every month. Supplies are available during our open hours, with staff available to answer questions as needed. Grab a beverage or paleta from one of our neighborhood shops and explore nature with us!

Lunch with the Masters: Native Plants & Texas Tough Natives for droughts and floods

SEPTEMBER 17, Noon-2pm, Emergency Services Education Center,
7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Room 105
This month we have another Master Naturalist to talk to us about native plants and especially those Texas Tough natives. It’s September and we have lived through our central Texas summer- but have our plants lived through it? Maybe next year we need to plant more natives. Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, a longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch. Carol grew up with a nature photographer father and wildlife artist brother, and has spent much of her life looking around and learning in the great outdoors. Her favorite things to do are leading discovery walks in local natural areas, and finding and photographing interesting plants and insects. It's FREE to attend. Everyone is welcome. Bring your lunch or snack and learn something new!

Community Workshop: Managing Bugs in your Garden

SEPTEMBER 20, 11am-noon at Urban REAP, 1509 N. 15th Street
Come learn from Agronomer Mark Keeley on how to reduce pests in our gardens.  We will talk about Integrated Pest Management, the holistic approach to keeping our gardens safe, and look at some examples at Urban REAP! Please REGISTER HERE for this event.

Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board Meeting

SEPTEMBER 25, 4pm, City of Waco Operations Center, 1415 N 4th Street
**New Time and Location** The general public is welcome to attend this monthly meeting of the citizen board that makes policy recommendations to the Waco City Council. Consider becoming a member of the board. More information found here.

What We're Reading & Listening To

Articles

Whitehouse, Van Hollen Lead 30 Colleagues in Demanding EPA Obey the Law and Restore Solar for All, Other Green Bank Program Funding
By U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

USDA ends programs for solar, wind projects on farms
By Reuters

Texas created a $7.2B fund for gas plants. Hardly any are being built.
By Canary Media

Books

Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization
By Bill McKibben

Podcasts

Here Comes the Sun: Bill McKibben on Solar's Breakout Moment
By Energy Capital Podcast with Doug Lewin

Send us your suggestions for articles, books, podcasts, or videos, so that we can share them with our community.

Postscript

Researchers at the University of Houston claim to have made two major breakthroughs in carbon capture technology. The first breakthrough, published in the journal Nature Communications, introduces a new electrochemical process for filtering out carbon dioxide that avoids using a membrane like traditional carbon capture technology. The second, featured on the cover of the journal ES&T Engineering, demonstrates a new vanadium-based flow battery that could be used both to capture carbon and to store renewable energy.

Have Something to Share?

Submit your announcements and ideas to Eric Coffman by OCTOBER 1 to be included in next month's newsletter. 

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