McAllen
City Scorecard Rank
97
McAllen, TX
5.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city does not have a community-wide climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
We could not verify if the city has adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: September 2021
Adaptive Mitigation List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: September 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.
Last updated: July 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 3.5 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Texas allows its local jurisdictions to adopt and amend the Texas Building Energy Code. All residential and commercial building construction must comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). To learn more about the Texas building energy code, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial properties must comply with the Texas Building Energy Code. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 53.7.
Residential
Residential properties must comply with the Texas Building Energy Code. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 58.4.
Solar-readiness policies
The city has not adopted a policy mandating new construction be solar-ready.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
The city has not adopted a policy mandating new construction be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Last updated: October 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Commercial projects must submit Energy Compliance reports with permit applications. We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: July 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
Hidalgo County offers commercial and multifamily property owners access to PACE financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects.
Last updated: July 2021
Transportation
Score: 0.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
We could not confirm if the City of McAllen has a standalone transportation plan.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
At this time, the City does not have a codified vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
We could not determine if the City tracks VMT or GHG numbers.
Last Updated: November 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
McAllen has not yet implemented location-efficient zoning codes to be used across the city or in any specific neighborhood.
Residential Parking Policies
At this time, McAllen still has parking minimums in place.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
There are no incentives available through the City to promote location efficiency.
Last Updated: November 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
At this time, the city does not have a codified mode share target for trips within the city.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
No progress has been achieved as there are no targets in place.
Complete Streets
McAllen has not yet written or codified a Complete Streets Policy.
Last Updated: November 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transportation entities that service the City of McCallen have received $1,464,682.80 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $11.28 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Transit Authority's service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. McCallen’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 3.2, scoring 0 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: November 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, McAllen does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
There are no incentives available for the construction of EV charging infrastructure.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 3 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 2.1 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
McAllen does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
McAllen does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: November 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
McAllen does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: November 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
McAllen does not have any requirements or incentives in place to develop or preserve affordable housing in transit-served areas.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
McAllen does not currently provide rebates or incentives to low-income residents for efficient transportation options.
Last Updated: November 2021
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 1 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
American Electric Power (AEP), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of McAllen. The primary natural gas supplier for McAllen is Texas Gas Service, an IOU. The State of Texas requires electric utilities to offset load-growth through end-use energy efficiency, mandated through an EERS. The utilities must also submit their energy savings goals to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Texas page of the State Database.
The McAllen Public Utility is the municipal utility that provides the City of McAllen with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, according to AEP’s EEPR 2019 report, AEP Texas achieved 48,152 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.05% of electric sales. Energy efficiency spending was not available for AEP Texas.
In 2019 Texas Gas Service reported 0.30 MMTherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.09% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, TGS spent $3,225,878 on energy efficiency, which equates to $4.74 per residential customer. These savings figures represented in this section cover the entire Texas service territory, not just McAllen.
AEP offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers. Texas Gas similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential customers.
At this time, the City of McAllen does not have a formal partnership with AEP or Texas Gas in the form of a jointly-developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
AEP offers the Targeted Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (TLIP). The TLIP is designed to cost-effectively reduce energy consumption and energy costs for low-income residential customers in the Central Division service territory. Weatherization service providers install eligible weatherization and energy efficiency measures in qualified households that meet the Department of Energy (DOE) income-eligibility guidelines of at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. A Savings-to-Investment Ratio of 1.0 or higher is required of each serviced dwelling unit.
Spending and savings values and number of customers served by their program in 2019 were not available.
Texas Gas Service provides a Free Natural Gas Equipment Weatherization Program for low-income customers. This program provides a number of free services for customers on fixed or moderate incomes, as well as for the elderly and those with disabilities. Services include free installation of new and replacement CO detectors, smoke detectors, wall and central furnaces, natural gas water heaters, and ranges as well as any necessary plumbing or carpentry upgrades to ensure a safe and code-compliant home.
In 2019, Texas Gas Service spent $385,687 on its low-income programs. Savings and customers served aren’t available.
Multifamily Programs
At this time, AEP and Texas Gas Service do not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Neither American Electric Power (TX) nor Texas Gas Service provides building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The City of McAllen does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning or evaluation purposes. The City of McAllen does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2021, AEP set a company-wide goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with an interim goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2000 baseline. To achieve this goal, AEP will need to reduce emissions by 1.49% annually from 2020 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
To our knowledge, the city of McAllen does not participate in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation.
Last Updated: July 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy and water utilities do not offer joint energy and water efficiency programs, but Texas Gas Service does offer free water-saving kits to residential customers and direct installation measures including low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to commercial customers through CLEAResult.
At this point, the City of McAllen has not established a water savings target or goal.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information regarding an energy reduction goal for municipal operations.
Renewable Energy Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
We were unable to find information on McAllen’s fleet procurement policies or fuel-efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm if McAllen has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite renewable energy systems in McAllen.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding McAllen’s benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in McAllen.
Last updated: June 2021