Miami-Dade County was named as one of 10 new members of the City Energy Project this week, demonstrating its commitment to reducing carbon emissions, curbing climate change and reducing energy bills for its residents.
Joining Miami-Dade County as the project’s newest members are: Des Moines; Fort Collins, Col.; New Orleans; Pittsburgh; Providence, R.I.; Reno, Nev.; San Jose; St. Louis; and St. Paul.
As participants, the metro areas will “develop locally tailored plans comprising multiple integrated strategies to significantly reduce building energy use.” By 2030, the project’s now 20 participating cities have the potential to reduce carbon pollution by upwards of 9.6 million metric tons and save residents more than $1.5 billion in annual energy bills.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, Cliff Majersik, executive director of the Institute for Market Transformation, one of the project’s founding organizations, further elaborated on the benefits participating cities can expect to see from their efforts.
“Improving the energy efficiency of buildings not only helps residents, owners, tenants, businesses, cities and utilities save money – it also increases property value, creates jobs, reduces harmful pollution and creates healthier spaces,” he said. “By implementing proven building energy efficiency interventions, mayors can make significant progress in reducing emissions in collaboration with local leaders. We’re proud to expand the work of the City Energy Project to help these leading cities make themselves healthier, more competitive, more economically vibrant, and more attractive to employees and employers alike.”
The project’s history
A joint effort between the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and IMT, the project is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. It started with 10 pioneering cities – Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City – and their efforts have already paid dividends.
“The City of Atlanta’s partnership with the City Energy Project has bolstered our position as a national leader in sustainability and energy efficiency,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Our work with the City Energy Project since 2014 has allowed us to expand our commitment to reducing energy and water use citywide and continue to build upon our success in reducing energy and water use not just in the City’s central business corridors through initiatives such as the Atlanta Better Building Challenge, but across our region as a whole.”