Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the City of Philadelphia for committing to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within 10 years and to work with DOE to share successful decarbonization strategies. The City joins more than 90 partner organizations across the U.S. taking part in DOE’s Better Climate Challenge to pursue bold, measurable action against climate change. 

The Better Climate Challenge is the government platform that recognizes organizations with ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provides transparency, accountability and collaboration to find pathways toward decarbonization. To lower emissions, the City is taking a multifaceted approach that includes developing additional renewable energy projects, investing in capital projects to improve energy efficiency in buildings, and instituting a policy for procuring electric vehicles over fossil fuel-consuming vehicles. The DOE will support the City with technical assistance and provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities along the way.  

“Better Climate Challenge partners like the City of Philadelphia 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.” 

In addition to the Better Climate Challenge, the City has been a partner in the DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge since 2014, and through this commitment, has taken major steps toward reducing energy use and improving energy efficiency across 15 million square feet of the municipal building portfolio. Both Challenges reinforce the ongoing Municipal Energy Master Plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions and transition to 100% renewable energy sources by 2030.