Mesa Climate Action Plan

Conserving energy and supporting the transition to resilient, renewable energy for customer needs, buildings, and vehicles.

Renewable Power Supply:

Our Electric Utility's power supply includes 28% renewable power. The Utility has a goal to achieve close to 40% renewables in fiscal year 25/26. Learn more about the Utility’s Integrated Resource Plan, available Jan. 2025.

Mesa's Gas Utility has an aspirational goal to increase the amount of renewable natural gas, also known as biogas, in the City’s Gas Supply. The Utility is working toward an aspirational goal of 30% renewable natural gas. 

Active Projects: 

• Smart meters help customers understand their energy use.
• Food Waste to Energy Initiative
• Energy Efficient City Buildings and City Operations. Explore the data. 
• Solar generation on City Buildings. Explore the data.

Partnerships:

• SRP is working on sustainability goals that reduce carbon emissions.
• Energy Efficient Community Buildings. The Resilient Southwest Building Code Collaborative project is working to transform construction practices to achieve highly efficient and climate–ready buildings while preserving affordability and regional characteristics. 

Implementing strategies that address air quality challenges and protect the health of the community now and for future generations.

Active Projects: 

• Mesa’s Community Electric Vehicle Action Plan 
• Mesa’s electric fleet vehicles. Explore data. 
• Active transportation - bicycle and pedestrian projects 
• Transportation Master Plan(PDF, 18MB) – roadmap for improving how we use our transportation system so that everyone can safely and comfortably drive, walk, bike, or ride. In progress.
• Transit Master Plan 2050(PDF, 7MB)  
• Transit-Oriented Development – MesaCONNECTED: In progress 
• Mesa’s General Plan 2050(PDF, 126MB)

City Programs:

• Trees Are Cool – Million Tree Initiative. Trees absorb gaseous pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Trees also collect particulate matter on their leaves.

Partnerships:

• Rio East-Dobson Streetcar Extension Study

Implementing strategies that reduce the urban heat island effect, adding meaningful shade, and using nature-based solutions to reduce energy use and support the community’s quality of life. 

Active Projects: 

• New trees in parks, along streets, around city buildings, and at transit stops. Explore the data
• Bus shelter shade study and shelter design

City Programs:

• Expanding Mesa’s Urban Forest through the Trees Are Cool – Million Tree Initiative
• Shade Tree Programs for Mesa Electric customers and select Mesa neighborhoods
• Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities Comprehensive Master Plan(PDF, 16MB)  
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI): 
  LID Toolkit(PDF, 10MB)(PDF, 10MB) (Planning)
  GSI Handbook (Designing)
  Mesa Engineering Design Standards (Construction)  

Partnerships:

• Mesa’s Trees Dashboard. Map of recorded community-owned trees
• AZ Sustainability Alliance Tree Stewards Program
• Climate-ready community buildings
• Encouraging Low-impact development(PDF, 10MB) and publishing Green Stormwater Infrastructure technical details

Mesa is committed to sustainability managing its water supply and providing the community with resources to use water efficiently. 

Active Projects:

• Water reuse pipeline. 
• Smart meters help customers understand their energy use on an hourly basis.
• Grant-funded turf conversions in Mesa parks
• Grant funded water conservation incentives for HOAs and commercial customers

City Programs:

•  Mesa's Water Supply
• Water Conservation (water-saving resources, incentives and more)
• Water – Use It Wisely For 25 years, Water – Use it Wisely has been a trusted source of information for Arizona residents, showing how easy it is to save water and the added benefits of conservation.
• Your Water. Your Impact. Know, Compare, Save! Today’s Lessen Lesson
• Water Consumption – Explore the data
• Rainwater harvesting and green stormwater infrastructure in Mesa.   

Partnerships:

• Watershed protection and renewable energy through the SRP Biomass Agreement 

Promoting the circular economy, through thoughtful purchasing and recovering materials for reuse. 

Active Projects:

• Waste-Not-Mesa pilot projects for Mesa operations that divert hazardous materials and recyclable material from the waste stream
• Food Waste to Energy
• Online forms and digital correspondence (going paperless)

City Programs: 

• Mesa Recycles
• Household Hazardous Materials Facility and Swap Shop
• Green Waste Program
• Backyard Composting
• Paint Reuse
• Stuffbrary and Tool Lending 

Partnerships:

• Local First Arizona Green Business Certification program 

Food grown and produced locally reduces the environmental impacts of transportation, refrigeration, and preservation. 

Active Projects:

• Sirrine House Project

City Programs:

• City of Mesa Seed Library
• Mesa Urban Garden

Partnerships:

• Community Gardens
• Farm to Mesa Market
• Arizona Community Farmers Markets (Greater Phoenix Area)
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
• Good Food Finder from Local Fist Arizona
• United Food Bank
• Schools and Community Gardens – UofA Cooperative Extension

Individuals and community groups play an important role in reaching the Mesa Climate Action Plan goals. 

• Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund (Bloomberg Philanthropies Grant)
• Local First Arizona Green Building Program
• Growing the Next Generation of Tree Stewards (US Forestry Grant)
• Tree Stewards Program (US Forestry Grant)
• Corporate sponsored tree planting events

Mesa partnered with Boeing, Shutterfly and Skyline High School for a tree planting event at Skyline Park.