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Earlier this week, Mayor Greg Fischer announced that Louisville has received the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Cities Silver Certification. Louisville was one of 20 cities selected in 2020 as part of a Bank of America grant to pursue the LEED for Cities rating system, which helps cities benchmark their performance across various metrics such as land-use, natural areas, energy, water, waste, transportation, and quality of life. Louisville received the most points for its climate adaptation plan Prepare Louisville, urban heat island mitigation strategies, water efficiency, and quality of life. The scorecard shows most opportunity for improvement in the energy and greenhouse gas emissions category. To learn what Louisville is doing regarding to advance sustainable energy, see www.100PercentLou.com. |
Louisville also made the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) A-List for a second consecutive year, among 95 other global cities. CDP states that A List cities are demonstrating their climate leadership through concerted and effective action, are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities, and also identify more than twice as many opportunities for climate action. Read the press release for more.
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Louisville has been featured for our urban tree planting efforts in the U.S. Climate Resilience Map developed by the Atlantic Council and Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. Louisville is the fastest growing urban heat island in the country, and our efforts that have led to the addition of 13,000 new trees in the city's most deprived areas are making a difference.
Read more at mappingresilience.onebillionresilient.org/louisville.
Louisville Metro Government has filed a Motion with the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Intervene in Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU)'s joint 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). An IRP is a utility's long term plan for meeting the energy needs of its customers, and Louisville Metro has, for the first time, joined other Kentucky organizations in intervening in the IRP process as a result of the lack of alignment between LG&E and KU’s current integrated resource plan proposal and Louisville Metro’s renewable energy goals. To learn more about Louisville's clean energy goals, visit 100PercentLou.com and to view the IRP and Motions to Intervene, visit: https://psc.ky.gov/Case/ViewCaseFilings/2021-00393.
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Last month, Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC) and Louisville Metro Government announced a new partnership to launch a solarize campaign called Solar Over Louisville. This program will offer Louisville residents and property owners a discounted, wholesale rate for installing solar panels. Solar Over Louisville does the hard work of vetting a high-quality solar installer. By participating in Solar Over Louisville, you will reduce your energy bills, support local solar jobs, combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and join a community of neighbors going solar together!
If you are a property owner, you can register your interest in the program through our Early Access Form. If you are a solar installer, you can view the RFP, which will remain open until January 7, 2022. To learn more, visit 100PercentLou.com/2040.
In order to combat urban heat island, Louisville Metro Government offers an incentive of $1 per square foot to any residential or non-residential property that has installed a certified Cool Roof within the last 3 years. 70% of our funding is allocated to high heat districts, which include Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, and 15. Presently, there is over $90,000 in funding remaining in these districts for this fiscal year, and limited funds available in the remaining districts as well. Louisville Metro encourages property owners to apply!
To date, Louisville Metro has incentivized nearly 1 million square feet of certified cool roofs. Learn more and apply for the Cool Roof Incentive Program.
Do you know a building or project that should be recognized for its achievements in energy efficiency? Nominations are NOW OPEN for the Kilowatt Crackdown awards, presented by the Louisville Energy Alliance! Awards are presented for Best Performer and Most Improved across multiple building types, as well as the top honor of the Kilowatt Cup! Nominate your building and learn more about the Louisville Energy Alliance at LouisvilleEnergyAlliance.org. The Kilowatt Crackdown awards deadline is February 28, 2022.
In 2021, the Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability continued to work with partners within Metro and in the community to advance sustainability. Here is a snapshot of key achievements this year:
- In February, Louisville Metro Government hired Zachary Tyler to serve as the city’s first Energy Manager, responsible for helping the city implement energy efficiency throughout Louisville Metro operations and work toward the 100% clean energy goals laid out and approved by Metro Council in February 2020.
- On Earth Day, Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that Louisville Metro Government has entered into an agreement with Energize Kentucky for the administration of an Energy Project Assessment District (EPAD) program to advance outreach to the local community via contractors, commercial real estate companies and commercial property owners. The EPAD program allows for Louisville’s businesses and organizations to install renewable energy systems and increase their energy efficiency by providing a financing mechanism on property tax bills.
- On Earth Day, Mayor Greg Fischer announced that Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to chart a course in meeting the city’s 100% renewable energy goals.
- On May 6, Mayor Greg Fischer signed an executive order directing all Louisville Metro Government agencies to prioritize the purchasing of electric and hybrid vehicles, green equipment and necessary infrastructure to support LMG’s transition to electric vehicles.
- On May 19, Louisville Metro partnered with the Louisville Energy Alliance to present the Kilowatt Crackdown Awards to local leaders in energy efficiency, awarding the top honor of the Kilowatt Cup to Churchill Downs for reducing their overall energy consumption by 23%.
- In June, LMG was awarded $480,000 in supplemental funding by the EPA for the Brownfields Cleanup Loan Program. This fund can be used to finance remediation at brownfields sites and helps ensure contaminated sites are redeveloped and put back into productive use.
- On September 25, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, community partners, and Parkland residents held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Parkland Plaza, a new community-designed public space in the heart of the Parkland neighborhood.
- In September, Louisville Metro launched a new website, www.100percentlou.com, to provide an information hub for the community to track progress toward the 100% clean energy goals adopted by Metro Council through the 100% Renewable Energy Resolution.
- During Drive Electric Week on October 1, Mayor Greg Fischer issued a Green Fleet Challenge to encourage businesses to increase the number of green vehicles in their fleets.
- On November 10, Louisville Metro partnered with the Louisville Sustainability Council to host the 8th annual Louisville Sustainability Summit on the theme Powering the Movement: Building Community to Fight Climate Change. More than 300 registered attendees discussed innovative ways to further collaboration between businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders for impactful climate action.
- On November 10, Louisville Metro announced a new partnership with the Louisville Sustainability Council to launch a community solarize campaign, Solar Over Louisville.
- On November 18, Louisville received the distinction of being one of less than 100 cities around the world to make CDP’s annual A List. The global environmental nonprofit’s list recognizes major progress in climate action and transparency, and less than one in 10 cities earned an A rating this year.
- On December 6, Louisville received LEED for Cities Certification at the Silver level from the U.S. Green Building Council to commend the city’s efforts to meet its commitments towards sustainability and to measure the tremendous progress the city has made.
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Sunday, January 23rd, from 1 - 4 PM (virtual - Zoom):
The Kentucky Conservation Committee will be hosting their 2022 Legislative Summit and Annual Meeting.
Learn more and register at: kyconservation.org/legislative-summit-2022
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