45 Top Mayors Pledge Action on Extreme Weather, Launch National Resilience Campaign

The Resilient Communities for America campaign launches today: The mayors of Washington DC, Denver, Cincinnati, Sacramento, San Diego, Milwaukee, El Paso, Broward County and many others commit to creating more resilient cities and counties in response to nation’s growing extreme weather, climate and energy challenges

Forty five leading local elected officials today committed to creating more resilient cities, towns, and counties in the face of unprecedented extreme weather and energy challenges that threaten communities across the country. The “Inaugural Signatories” of the Resilient Communities for America Agreement letter pledged to take cost-effective actions to prepare and protect their communities from the increasing disasters and disruptions fueled by climate change, such as heat waves, floods, droughts, severe storms, and wildfires. In addition, they called for more action and support from federal leaders.

Learn more at www.resilientamerica.org.

Campaign Chair Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento: "Make a Commitment"

“A new national movement is emerging, led by mayors who believe that now is the time to take powerful, proactive steps to safeguard our communities, adapt to extreme weather and energy challenges, and transform adversity into economic opportunity,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, CA, Chair of the Resilient Communities for America campaign. “Today I call on my fellow mayors and county leaders across the country to join the campaign and make your own commitment to creating more resilient communities that are strong, self-reliant, prepared, and prosperous.”

How to Encourage Energy Upgrades in Multi-Family Buildings

Photo credit: avrene via flickr. Text source: Text pulled directly from report,  Getting to Scale:
Recommendations for Stimulating Investment in Energy Upgrades in Existing Multifamily Buildings

For the cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland, CA one clear and largely untapped opportunity for making meaningful progress toward local sustainability goals is unlocking energy savings in existing multifamily buildings (i.e., buildings with three or more attached dwelling units). But energy programs for tenants and property owners may struggle to succeed and overcome barriers.

The big question for local government policymakers: How can you motivate property owners to invest in energy upgrades?

In a new report, "Getting to Scale: Recommendations for Stimulating Investment in Energy Upgrades in Existing Multifamily Buildings," the three cities outline three recommendations based on research and extensive on interviews with local multifamily property owners and managers, close examination of the conditions that catalyzed past energy upgrades locally and in other cities, and research into existing multifamily energy efficiency programs throughout the U.S. and beyond.

View the Report (pdf)

Effectively motivating property owners to invest in energy upgrades requires achieving three main objectives, outlined below.

Chief's Energy Challenge Pushes Fire Stations to Save Energy

The Chief’s Energy Challenge is a nationwide program for fire departments to reduce their energy use. The fire departments in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh, North Carolina have issued this challenge to their peers across the country to reduce their energy use over the next three years. Using best practices and lessons learned from fire stations that are already in the program, this initiative strives to inspire energy conservation to help departments provide more and better services to their community.

New Case Study on Solar in Small Communities

The Solar in Small Communities: River Falls, WI case study explores the City of River Falls’ efforts to stimulate a local solar market, with a focus on the River Falls Municipal Utility (RFMU) Solar Feed-in Tariff program.  Together, RFMU, the local government, and the citizens of River Falls have developed a suite of energy programs for the community over the past 12 years.  Their success and continued dedication serves as a strong example of how a small community can work with its municipal utility to accelerate the development of a solar industry.

This case study was created as part of the North Carolina Solar Center’s efforts under the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. As a member of this partnership, the North Carolina Solar Center provides information and technical expertise to local governments interested in implementing solar programs and policies.

Retrocommissioning Program Toolkit for Local Governments

In its Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) established a strategic framework for helping local governments advance sustainability within their jurisdictions. The Plan calls for local governments to influence the community, leverage local authority and lead by example by improving resource efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and cutting energy bills in their own facilities.

Beaverton Kicks Off Sustainability Forums, Promotes iPledge

The City of Beaverton, OR, is taking a smart approach to community engagement around the creation of its sustainability plan. In March and April, the City held the first two of four sustainability forums that drew over 180 people combined. The forums bring experts to Beaverton to discuss how residents can make positive environmental, economic and social changes, and to educate the community about global, national, regional, and local sustainability issues.

A Guiding Light for FHFA? PACE Fight Turning into Soap Opera Drama

(A message from our friends at VoteSolar)

It seems that soap operas did not, in fact, go away after the 80s.  Because the ongoing saga of efforts to establish Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs play like an energy wonk’s version of ‘As the World Turns’.

We’re writing with an update, and a request to take action to help clean energy solutions in America.

Eugene, OR, Reduces Energy Consumption & Carbon Footprint

Even as its population grows, Eugene, OR is decreasing its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, setting an example for cities nationwide. A 2013 progress report on the city's Community Climate and Energy Action Plan highlighted progress toward key goals on energy and fossil fuel use, land use and transportation, climate adaptation and community resilience, and other areas.

>> View the Progress Report (pdf)

Atlanta Expands Sustainability Efforts with Power to Change Ambassador Program

Call to action for ambassadors has committed 70 businesses and organizations to date

Mayor Kasim Reed announced the creation of the Power to Change Ambassador Program at today’s 2nd annual Atlanta Earth Day Cleanup Challenge. As part of the city’s Power to Change sustainability initiative, the Ambassador Program will define and unite the sustainability efforts of government, business, academia, nonprofits and individuals.

“To become a top-tier sustainable city, we must take a cohesive and collaborative approach,” said Mayor Reed. “The Power to Change Ambassador Program will help amplify our individual successes and showcase our full-circle commitment to sustainability”.

What Can Chinese Cities Teach Us About Sustainability?

A view of Shanghai

Blogger: Michael Schmitz, ICLEI USA Executive Director

This article originally appeared on Environmental Leader, following Michael's April 2013 trip to China with Gov. Brown's trade delegation. Chinese local government leaders expressed strong interest in ICLEI's tools and guidance, and the climate and energy policies of U.S. cities. ICLEI will work to help connect Chinese and U.S. cities to share best practices.

Take a tour of China’s fast-growing megacities and you’re likely to come away astonished. Those of us who joined Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.’s historic trade and investment delegation last week were struck by the sheer size and rapid scale of development in dozens of cities, from Beijing and Shanghai to Huangzhou and Guangzhou. But a closer look, past the infamous veil of air pollution, reveals a lesser-known reality with incredible potential: China’s vast efforts to build sustainable, low-carbon cities from the ground up and to massively retrofit existing ones.