Goal Area 1: Carbon-Free
2050 Vision
Cedar Rapids is a carbon-free community. Residents can meet their basic needs within a 15-minute walk. Clean energy provides clean, healthy air. Walking, biking, and busing are popular, while low-emissions public transit and shared-mobility options come frequently.
Objectives:
- 1A. Reduce carbon emissions 45% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050
- 1B. Increase renewables to 70–100% electricity
- 1C. Increase transport sector's share of low-emission energy to 35–65%
- 1D. Eliminate coal, reduce carbon in industry 65–90%, and sequester remaining carbon
Objective 1A. Reduce Carbon Emissions 45% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050
2030 Vision I
Homes and businesses build identity, achievements, and community through sustainability actions, which are celebrated and shared.
- Action 1: Build a Sustainable Neighborhood Program to advance sustainability achievements in each neighborhood and provide an exciting neighborhood-building opportunity for Neighborhood Associations.
- Action 2: Create a fund to implement a Green & Healthy Homes and Small Businesses program to support deep energy and water efficiency retrofits, hazard remediation, renewable energy, and vehicle and large appliance electrification, prioritizing vulnerable neighborhoods.
- Action 3: Build a Sustainable Business Program that enhances sustainable building practices (energy efficiency, clean energy, electrification, water, waste reduction) and sustainable land use practices (trees, green infrastructure, gardens, biking facilities).
- Action 4: Support residential energy disclosure for prospective homeowners and renters and commercial energy benchmarking to encourage energy awareness and conservation.
- Action 5: Develop and implement a sustainable building policy for new construction and major renovations.
2030 Vision II
Sustainable development policies support walkable core neighborhoods, where basic needs can be met in a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Living and working options support flexibility, resilience, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood identity.
- Action 6: Update land development regulations to expand missing middle housing and neighborhood scale commercial opportunities throughout the city.
- Action 7: Create a sustainable development policy that defines the characteristics of a 15-minute neighborhood and develops guidance and incentives to fill in missing amenities and features, prioritizing vulnerable neighborhoods.
- Action 8: Enhance transit and shared transportation options (micro-mobility and car-sharing) in under-resources communities and high-priority transit locations.
- Action 9: Enhance the Complete Streets Policy to further community education and prioritize urban heat island mitigation and tree plantings in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Objective 1B. Increase renewables to 70–100% electricity
2030 Vision
Renewable energy is widespread, equitable, and a key attractor for economic growth.
- Action 10: Support large-scale solar installations in underutilized areas (parking lots and rooftops) and urban reserve areas that offer multiple benefits.
Objective 1C. Increase transport sector's share of low-emission energy to 35–65%
2030 Vision
Low-emission city fleet and private vehicles are standard.
- Action 11: Develop readiness in the community for electric vehicle infrastructure and emerging low-emitting technologies.
Objective 1D. Eliminate coal, reduce carbon in industry 65–90%, and sequester remaining carbon
2030 Vision
Industry-City partnerships drive carbon reduction and community resilience, providing a model of cooperation locally and nationally.
- Action 12: Collaborate with industry around emission reductions (carbon capture, renewable energy) and community sustainability efforts (stormwater BMPs, garden and tree plantings, philanthropy, volunteerism).
