Tempe adopts plan to help residents with energy usage, extreme heat

Tempe City Council has officially adopted the Residential Energy Equity Roadmap, a community-driven plan designed with the goal of helping residents meet their energy use and extreme heat challenges. 

The resolution, approved on March 6, advances the city’s commitment to energy equity and climate resilience, according to a city release.

This initiative stems from the Climate Action Plan Update approved in 2022, where residents expressed concerns about increasing energy bills and the need for greater support amid rising utility rates and record-breaking energy consumption. 

The roadmap provides a comprehensive approach to address these issues through community-informed policies, programs and infrastructure improvements, the release explained,

Mayor Corey Woods said in the release that Tempe is committed to building a sustainable and resilient future.

“The Residential Energy Equity Roadmap furthers this goal by ensuring residents have access to affordable energy solutions while contributing to a cleaner environment,” Woods said. 

The roadmap, co-created with community members, focuses on three key themes:

• Energy Efficiency - Expanding education and access to energy-saving programs, strengthening building codes and fostering public-private partnerships.
• Renewable Energy - Advocating for equitable energy policies and helping households transition to clean energy sources.
• Urban Cooling - Increasing tree shade and implementing cooling strategies to mitigate extreme heat.

Eric Iwersen, transportation and sustainability director, said in the release that energy should be a right, not a privilege.

"This roadmap ensures that energy policies are informed by community voices and designed to meet the needs of all residents, especially as utility rates continue to rise,” Iwersen said.  

The plan’s development was supported by Chispa AZ and Rail CDC, organizations dedicated to sustainability and energy justice; and the Community Health and Human Services and Neighborhood Services departments provided input into the plan. 

The roadmap will guide future investments and initiatives to ensure equitable access to energy resources for all Tempe residents, the release stated.

For more, visit tempe.gov/EnergyEquity.  For more about Tempe’s sustainability initiatives, visit tempe.gov/sustainability.