State and Local Policy Database

Memphis

City Scorecard Rank

60

Memphis, TN

22.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 3 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All

Memphis and Shelby County released the Climate Action Plan in 2019. The joint Memphis-Shelby County Office of Sustainability releases annual reports on progress towards broadly defined energy and climate goals in the Sustainable Shelby Plan. The City Council adopted the plan in 2021.

Last updated: September 2021

Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All

Climate Mitigation Goal

The Memphis Climate Action Plan includes a greenhouse gas reduction goal of 71% below 2016 levels by 2050, with an interim reduction goal of 51% below 2016 levels by 2035. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.

The city and county have released one greenhouse gas inventory using 2016 data.

Energy Reduction Goal

The Climate Action Plan includes a goal to reduce commercial and residential electricity use by 10% or more, but the goal does not have a target date.

Renewable Energy Goal

The Climate Action Plan includes goals to increase carbon-free electricity generation to 75% by 2035 and 100% by 2050. 

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

Mitigation of Heat Islands List All

UHI Mitigation Goal

The Memphis and Shelby County Climate Action Plan includes a goal to increase urban tree canopy coverage to 60% countywide by 2050. In the Sustainable Shelby Plan, Memphis and Shelby County have stated goals to develop an urban forestry program, hire a full-time urban forester to audit the current system, develop a tree master plan, and create an initiative to plant 5,000 street trees per year.

UHI Policies and Programs

Though it has not yet been used to inform specific policies or programs, in late 2014, Memphis completed a regional tree canopy study with the University of Memphis and the Wolf River Conservancy. In 2015, the city also adopted the regional Greenprint plan that establishes a unified vision for a region-wide network of greenspaces.

Last updated: September 2021

Buildings Policies
Score: 5.5 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All

The City of Memphis is a home rule city and adopts its own building energy code. The city has not adopted a benchmarking and disclosure policy. The city offers incentives for energy efficiency and solar energy projects, particularly for low-income property owners.

Last updated: July 2021

Building Energy CodesList All

Overview

The State of Tennessee allows cities to adopt home rule charters by local referendum, as the City of Memphis did. Thus, the city adopts and enforces its own building energy codes. Memphis and Shelby County recently adopted the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with local amendments. To learn more about Tennessee’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.

Commercial

Commercial properties must comply with the 2015 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 52.7.

Residential

Residential properties must comply with the 2015 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 57.6.

Solar-readiness policies

The city has not passed an ordinance mandating new construction be solar-ready.

EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies

The city has not passed an ordinance mandating new construction be EV-ready.

Last updated: July 2021

Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All

Memphis does not staff full-time employees solely dedicated to energy code enforcement. The city verifies energy code compliance through plan reviews and site inspections. The city does not provide upfront support to developers and/or owners for energy code compliance.

Last updated: July 2021

Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All

Incentives

MLGW, the city’s municipal utility, administers the Share the Pennies program to provide low-income homeowners with grants to make energy efficiency improvements.

MLGW offers businesses and organizations seeking LEED certification additional incentive funds.

The Downtown Memphis Commission program offers the option of longer tax abatement periods for projects that are LEED-certified, attain Net Zero Energy Building certification, or attain MLGW’s EcoBUILD certification. The Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE) also offers longer tax abatement periods for LEED, Green Globes, or Energy Star certification.

Last updated: July 2021

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All

The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Sustainability and Resilience and local partners launched the Sustainable Workforce Initiative, a two-year program that includes energy efficiency workforce development. 

Last updated: Jule 2021

Transportation
Score: 7.5 out of 30 points
Transportation Summary List All

The transportation authority serving the City of Memphis is the Memphis Area Transit Authority. MATA also provides public transportation for the city and the broader metropolitan area, including bus and trolley services. The Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses Memphis, and many surrounding cities and towns. The Department of Public Works is the city agency charged with managing the city’s transportation network.

Last updated: January 2017

Sustainable Transportation Planning List All

Sustainable Transportation Plan

Memphis does not yet have a sustainable transportation plan in place.

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

Memphis adopted a Unified Development Code in 2010 that incorporates form-based elements and overlays to encourage mixed-use development. The Memphis 3.0 Plan also encourages compact development, greater connectivity, and mixed-use development as priorities moving forward.

Residential Parking Policies

The City removes minimum off-street parking requirements for certain areas of the city.

Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure

The Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan encourages compact and mixed-use development, but no formal incentives are codified.

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

The City of Memphis Bikeway and Pedestrian program monitors and estimates emissions saved based on numbers of miles traveled and is seeking to measure mode shift in the future.

Complete Streets

Memphis adopted its Complete Streets Policy through an executive order in 2013.         

Last Updated: November 2021

Public Transit List All

Transportation Funding

The transportation entities that service the City of Memphis have received $36,698,975.00 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $51.81 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. The City of Memphis’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 4.1, scoring 0 points in the City Scorecard.

Last Updated: November 2021

Efficient VehiclesList All

Vehicle Purchase Incentives

At this time, Memphis 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

The City has 55 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 8.4 ports per 100,000 people.

Electric School Bus Goal

Memphis does not have an electric school bus goal.

EV Transit Bus Goal

Memphis does not have an EV transit bus goal.

Last Updated: November 2021

Freight System EfficiencyList All

The Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MP0), the regional freight network, has completed a regional freight plan that will address freight needs and issues in a comprehensive fashion.

Last Updated: November 2021

Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All

Affordable New TOD Housing Policy

The Memphis 3.0 Plan is now complete and includes policies and strategies related to creating and preserving affordable housing in transit-served and TOD areas.

Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options

Explore Bike Share offers a Pay-It-Forward membership that provides an annual membership to the purchaser as well as to a fellow Memphian in need of affordable transportation options. The Transit vision of the cities Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan also targets equitable transportation solutions.

Last Updated: November 2021

Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 5.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All

Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) is the municipal utility that provides electricity, natural gas, and drinking water to the City of Memphis. The Tennessee Regulatory Authority sets the rates and services standards of the investor-owned natural gas, electric, and water utilities. The municipal energy utilities implement Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)-funded energy efficiency programs, which are outlined in the TVA Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Tennessee page of the State Database.

The Department of Public Works is the municipal utility that provides wastewater treatment and stormwater management services for Memphis.

Last Updated: July 2021

Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All

In 2019, according to TVA and EIA, MLGW achieved 23,359 MWh in net incremental savings, representing 0.17% of retail sales. In 2019, MLGW had no savings from natural gas efficiency programs. We could not confirm MLGW’s spending for 2019.

MLGW offers natural gas and electric efficiency tools and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.

The city and county have partnered with MLGW and TVA to develop the Mayor’s Energy Challenge, which established a $10 million low-interest loan fund for commercial energy efficiency projects, promoted the My Account tool through MLGW, and prompted many assessment programs, calculators, and other tools to bring energy efficiency to Memphis.

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All

Low-Income Programs

MLGW implementation of Share the Pennies program to provide home weatherization grants for low-income qualified residential customers. This program provides the necessary capital and labor to make repairs to improve the energy efficiency of customers’ homes. Repairs include AC condenser replacement, attic access hatches, attic insulation, duct replacement, furnace replacement, leaks (gas and water), water heater replacement, window and door replacement, and health and safety improvements. Share the Pennies is funded by donations from rounding utility bills and sponsored by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association and MLG The program works with the local nonprofit, Metropolitan Inter-faith Association (MIFA), on implementation, and also partners with other local nonprofit groups on program design and uptakes, such as the Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In 2019, according to MLGW, they served 67 low-income households.

Multifamily Programs

MLGW offers a multifamily version of MLGW’s long-standing, single-family program, EcoBUILD. The program uses a set of prescriptive measures and inspections, EcoBUILD helps building owners construct and maintain energy-efficient properties.

In 2019, MLGW spent $53,900 on 139 housing units in 2 multifamily properties.

Last Updated: July 2021

Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All

Memphis Light, Gas & Water does not provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings.

The City of Memphis provides community-wide energy usage data for communing planning and evaluation purposes by service territory through MLGW’s annual reports.

The City of Memphis 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 Energy UtilitiesList All

Utility Climate Mitigation Goal

In 2019, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the electric power provider of MLGW, committed to achieving reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% reduction by 2030 and by 80% by 2035 from 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, TVA will need to reduce emissions by 3.6% annually from 2019 levels.

City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid

In 2019, TVA emitted 5.7 metric tons of CO2 per capita.

Last Updated: July 2021

Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All

Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals

While the MLGW programs focus on energy efficiency, water efficiency is included in My Account analytics and self-audits, low-income repairs, and customer communications to help preserve and protect the aquifer system. The Energy Education webpage includes information on both energy and water efficiency.

The City of Memphis does not have a water efficiency goal.

Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation

The city does not have a comprehensive energy management strategy in place for its water and wastewater utilities. 

Both of the city’s wastewater treatment facilities supply biogas to the water utility for use on-site.

Last Updated: August 2021

Local Government Score:
1 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All

Memphis's Climate Action Plan was adopted in 2021. The Sustainable Shelby Plan includes a broad range of sustainability and economic development policy objections for the City of Memphis.

Climate Mitigation Goal

The Climate Action Plan includes goals to reduce emissions from municipal buildings and fleet using a 2016 baseline. The goals are 55% in buildings and 45% in the fleet by 2035, and 80% in buildings and 80% in the fleet by 2050. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.

Energy Reduction Goal

We were unable to find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal. 

Renewable Energy Goal

We were unable to find information on a renewable energy goal for municipal operations.

Last updated: June 2021

Procurement and Construction Policies List All

Fleet Policies and Composition

Memphis is considering policies and strategies for transitioning to a more efficient, cleaner fleet with an increased number of electric and alternative fuel vehicles. The City’s fleet is composed of 3.0% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles. 

Public Lighting

Memphis has not yet adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance.  Streetlights are operated by the local electricity utility, MLGW, and are scheduled to operate only during the hours when they are needed. MLGW has implemented two LED streetlight programs and the city’s Climate Action Plan recommends replacing all streetlights with LED by 2030.

Onsite and offsite renewable systems 

We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite renewable energy systems in Memphis.

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

The Memphis-Shelby County Office of Sustainability currently tracks energy use for all Shelby County buildings and is working to incorporate City of Memphis buildings into their energy management software.

Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy

Shelby County requires that all capital improvement projects conduct a cost analysis. The County recently completed large-scale retrofits for two office buildings downtown (Vasco Smith Administration Building in 2015 and Shelby County Office Building/157 Poplar in 2011) that incorporated upgrades to multiple systems (HVAC, replacement of electrical infrastructure, window replacement, boiler plant replacement). The City of Memphis is investing in LED retrofits for some fire stations and is working with an energy performance contractor to renovate City Hall to make it more efficient. The energy performance contracting approach may be applied to other city facilities in addition to City Hall.

Last updated: June 2021