FY2024 Proposed Budget

Recent Accomplishments:  Refined residential energy efficiency grant program to focus on insulation, electrical panel upgrades, and air source heat pumps for income-qualified households  Launched Climate Resilience Corps, a youth engagement program focused on neighborhood outreach and climate trainings  Established the Climate Innovation Grant to support businesses adopting emerging technologies  Initiated EV charging rebate program for apartment buildings and condos  Held third annual Climate Fest, focusing each day on various themes within the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan  Launched third round of Root for Trees residential tree planting program  Held second annual Neighborhood Energy Blitz event, supplying homeowners with energy efficiency education and resources such as LED light bulbs and furnace whistles  Engaged the business community through ongoing outreach efforts including sponsoring scholarships for local Realtors to receive energy efficiency training, hosting a small business sustainability focus group, and a “lunch and learn” for local HVAC contractors on heat pumps Upcoming Challenges:  Continued implementation of initiatives within Accelerating Iowa City’s Climate Actions report and achieving City’s emission reduction goals of net zero by 2050  Supply chain issues related to solar panels, EV charging equipment, and air source heat pumps resulting in delays for both municipal and residential grant-funded projects  Understanding and navigating funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act that may necessitate reconfiguring some of our own grant programs  Identifying community organizations who wish to serve as “Resilience Hubs” and creating a dialogue to identify how best to partner with them to do so  Capitalizing on the community’s enthusiasm for the electric buses to further electrify the City’s fleet  Augmenting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout climate action initiatives  Determining whether to move forward on energy benchmarking for Iowa City buildings

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