Looking back at 2024, we saw both unprecedented climate events, like Wisconsin’s first February tornado, and big climate wins, like a new, ambitious carbon pollution reduction goal for the U.S. Both these challenges and successes serve to reinforce our commitment to sustainability and climate action at the City of Madison. I’m proud of everything we achieved together in 2024 and am inspired by the momentum we’re building for 2025. Thank you to everyone — City staff, community members, and partner organizations — who have contributed to these accomplishments and continue to make Madison a more sustainable place to live.

1. Madison was recognized as top midsized metro area for advancing sustainability In June 2024, Madison was selected as the top performing midsize metro area for sustainability. This recognition comes from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) City Clean Energy Scorecard where Madison ranked 21st out of 75 cities nationwide. The ACEEE report highlights Madison's strengths in community energy infrastructure and local government operations, while also identifying opportunities for improvement in community-wide initiatives.

2. Madison Metro launched BRT service on Rapid Routes A, B and F In September 2024, Madison launched its all-electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, marking a significant advancement in the city's sustainable transportation efforts. The new BRT line operates with a fleet of 62 all-electric articulated buses, offering quieter and more environmentally friendly transit options. This initiative reflects Madison's commitment to reducing carbon pollution from transportation and improving frequency of service. The BRT system features dedicated bus lanes, heated stations, and a next-generation fare payment system, all designed to improve the rider experience and promote the use of public transportation.

3. Sustainability staff secured $20 Million EPA Community Change Grant for energy upgrades to affordable multifamily housing In December 2024, the City of Madison was awarded a $20.2 million grant focused on home energy upgrades that reduce energy burden and cut climate pollution. This transformative project will provide whole-home upgrades to income-qualified single- and multi-family homes, provide training to grow our local green workforce, and support home energy education and outreach by community-based organizations. Whole-home upgrades include efficient lighting, heating, cooling, and appliances as well as better insulation and eliminating issues like mold and radon. These fixes will save energy, lower utility bills, and help residents breathe easier.

4. The Engineering Division and GreenPower Program achieved a major solar milestone In April 2024, the City of Madison achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 2 megawatts (MW) of behind-the-meter solar energy capacity. This achievement marks another step forward in the City’s commitment to installing 10 MW of solar by 2030. This accomplishment is part of the City’s broader efforts to expand its renewable energy infrastructure, with over 6,200 solar panels now installed across City facilities. The GreenPower Program played a key role in facilitating these installations by providing workforce training and employing participants in the installation of solar systems.

5. The City of Madison launched the first year of the Building Energy Savings Program (BESP) In May 2024, City launched the first year of our Building Energy Savings Program (BESP), a key initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in large commercial buildings. This year, owners of commercial buildings over 100,000 square feet were required to benchmark their energy usage. Energy benchmarking provides building owners and managers with key information to help reduce energy consumption. owners of buildings over 100,000 square feet will also need to tune up their buildings. Building tune-ups check and adjust building energy systems, like lighting and HVAC controls, to make sure existing systems are running well without wasting energy or money. Also beginning in 2025, owners of commercial buildings between 50,000 and 100,000 square feet begin benchmarking their energy use annually, extending the program’s benefits across a broader range of properties.

6. The Sustainability Plan was adopted by the Common Council In August 2024, the City of Madison adopted a comprehensive sustainability plan update, the first since 2011. The plan includes 24 goals organized into eight key elements of a sustainable city: Quality, Affordable Housing Resilient City Design & Infrastructure Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Sustainable Transportation Clean, Abundant Water Zero Waste Healthy Ecosystems and a Vibrant, Green Economy. Each goal is supported by a set of actions and metrics to track progress, ensuring accountability and transparency. The plan also highlights many of the City’s current initiatives related to sustainability and climate action, providing a framework for continued collaboration across the community.

7. We’re even closer to meeting our 2030 renewable energy goal In 2024, the City made steady progress toward reaching our goal of powering all municipal operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030. Now, 82% of the city's electricity comes from renewable sources, an increase from 75% in 2020. This success is driven by smarter operations and rooftop solar installations. Additionally, partnerships on projects like the Hermsdorf Solar Fields and the Butter Solar Project have expanded clean energy access. Visit this City’s webpage to see a detailed breakdown of our progress toward 100% renewable energy usage for our operations:

8. The Streets Division added two electric collection trucks to its fleet In September 2024, the City of Madison expanded its commitment to sustainable transportation by introducing two all-electric collection trucks into its fleet, becoming the first community in Wisconsin to do so. Each conventional diesel-powered refuse truck typically consumes about 17 gallons of fuel daily, contributing to carbon emissions and air pollution. In contrast, these electric trucks produce zero tailpipe emissions, significantly benefiting both the environment and public health. This initiative represents a substantial advancement in the adoption of heavy-duty electric vehicles. The addition of electric collection trucks to Madison’s municipal fleet also helps grow the market for clean heavy-duty vehicles and move the industry away from its dependence on fossil fuels.

9. The Farmers’ Market Food Scrap Collection program set another record In 2024, Madison's food scraps collection program achieved two significant milestones in diverting organic waste from landfills. First, the program expanded to include three farmers' market drop-off locations: the South Madison Farmers' Market, the Eastside Farmers' Market, and the Westside Community Farmers' Market. Second, the program successfully diverted a record 31,650 pounds of food waste from landfills(link is external). That’s more than the weight of two woolly mammoths! Residents are encouraged to bring acceptable food scraps—such as raw fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells—to these markets during specified hours. This initiative is coordinated by our partner Sustain Dane(link is external) and their many wonderful volunteers.

10. The Youth Climate Action Fund awarded grants to local young people driving climate solutions In August 2024, the City of Madison was thrilled to announce that eight local youth-led projects received support through the Youth Climate Action Fund. This new program is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which awarded the City of Madison a total of $50,000 to empower young people acting on climate change. The winning proposals focused on a variety of issues including students restoring Teejop Mounds at the Arboretum and a bike repair club at East High School. By providing these youth leaders with the resources they need, the fund is helping to inspire more sustainable leaders in our community. The success of the program has led to Madison receiving $100,000 in additional funding to expand the initiative in 2025. This will allow even more young people to engage in climate action and help build a foundation for long-term environmental stewardship in Madison.

11. The Madison earned 2023 Leadership Circle Recognition with National Monarch Pledge In January 2024, the City of Madison reaffirmed its commitment to supporting pollinators by continuing its participation in the National Monarch Pledge. This pledge, part of a nationwide effort to protect the monarch butterfly and other pollinator species, commits cities and organizations to create and maintain habitats that support these vital creatures. As part of the pledge, Madison has implemented a range of initiatives, including planting pollinator-friendly gardens, reducing pesticide use, and enhancing green spaces throughout the city. By expanding these efforts, Madison is not only helping to protect monarch populations but also fostering a healthier ecosystem for all pollinators.

12. The City’s Sustainability and Resilience program welcomed a new staff member In August 2024, Alice Duncan Graves joined the City of Madison’s sustainability team to lead research and strategy development for building decarbonization. This position is fully funded through the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellows program. Alice brings extensive experience in local government, policy and sustainability. Her expertise will help drive Madison's energy efficiency goals forward, particularly in ensuring that both new and existing buildings promote sustainability standards. Alice's work will also play a key role in the continued development and implementation of the City’s Building Energy Savings Program (BESP).

13. The City of Madison launched a new air quality monitoring initiative In November 2024, the City of Madison completed installation of a citywide network of air quality sensors to monitor particulate matter pollution (PM 2.5), which can have serious health impacts. These sensors are now fully operational, providing real-time data on air quality throughout the city. The City is also preparing to launch an interactive website in 2025, where residents can access live air quality information and engage with the data in meaningful ways. This initiative, supported by a $430,000 grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will help guide future strategies to reduce pollution and protect community health.

14. The City was awarded an Energy Futures Grant to help scale up the Efficiency Navigator program In October 2024, the City of Madison was awarded a $500,000 Energy Futures Grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to scale and expand the Efficiency Navigator Program across Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairie. With this grant the project team will create the guidance and resources communities need to launch and sustain an Efficiency Navigator programs. The Efficiency Navigator program is a national model for successfully delivering energy upgrades that save energy, reduce utility bills, and cut carbon emissions. Partners Elevate and Sustain Dane will play key roles in expanding the program’s reach and impact. An exciting aspect of this grant is its focus on workforce development, offering training opportunities for local residents to take advantage of emerging residential energy efficiency initiatives.

15. New community-wide and municipal greenhouse gas inventories In June 2024, the City of Madison completed greenhouse gas inventories for 2018 and 2022, providing crucial insights into our progress in reducing emissions. These inventories show that community-wide emissions decreased by 8.1%(opens in a new window) from 2018 to 2022, while municipal operations saw a 6.7% reduction(opens in a new window). By tracking our emissions, we gain insights into the sources of our carbon footprint, allowing us to develop targeted strategies for further reductions. It’s important to note that the 2022 data may reflect the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted travel and energy use. Our new greenhouse gas inventories are an important tool in tracking progress and will help us identify areas for improvement in our work against climate change.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone in our community who has contributed to the City’s sustainability efforts. Let’s celebrate the numerous accomplishments the City of Madison has achieved this year and build on that momentum in 2025!