The city of Chula Vista was recognized by the U.S Department of Energy for its commitment to reducing portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent within 10 years.
The city has worked with the DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies. It is among 80 organizations and one of a small handful of participating local governments and agencies working toward a low-carbon future as a partner of the DOE’s Better Climate Challenge.
The Better Climate Challenge is the government platform that provides transparency, accountability, technical assistance, and collaboration to identify decarbonization pathways and provide recognition for leadership across the U.S. economy. The challenge builds on over a decade of DOE experience through the Better Buildings Initiative.
The DOE will support Chula Vista's efforts with technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and a platform for the city to demonstrate its commitment to being part of the solution to climate change.
According to the city, there are plans to continue upgrading municipal buildings to make them more energy and water efficient and all-electric, complete installation of several solar projects, construct additional bike lanes and expand electrification of the city’s fleet.
“Better Climate Challenge partners like the City of Chula Vista are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants, and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”
All eligible municipal facilities will be operating on 100 percent renewable electricity as the final phase of San Diego Community Power rolls out in May 2022.
“These efforts will allow the City to lead by example in showcasing how community members can increase energy independence, reduce pollution and meet the aligned science-based greenhouse gas reduction goals for community-wide emissions,” The city wrote in a press release.
Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with public and private sector organizations to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings more efficient, thereby saving billions of dollars on energy bills, reducing emissions, and creating thousands of jobs.There are more than 950 Better Buildings partners who have shared their innovative approaches and strategies for adopting energy-efficient technologies.
