Mesa
City Scorecard Rank
69
Mesa, AZ
18.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Climate Action Plan includes a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 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.
Energy Efficiency 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: August 2023
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: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: August 2023
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
Mesa allows for the transfer of development rights in certain zones.
Resilience Hubs
We were unable to determine if the city has supported the creation of resilience hubs that incorporate clean energy resources and are sited in disadvantaged communities.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 6 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Arizona is a home rule state which allows local jurisdictions to set their own building energy codes. Most jurisdictions have adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), but Mesa adopted the 2018 IECC with amendments. To learn more about the requirements for building energy codes for the State of Arizona, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial properties must comply with the 2018 IECC with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 48.75.
Residential
Residential properties must comply with the 2018 IECC with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 61.5.
Solar-readiness policies
Mesa has a voluntary solar-readiness policy.
EV-readiness policies
The city has a voluntary EV-readiness policy.
Low-energy use requirements
The city does not set low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Electrification policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted any electrification policies.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. The city verifies compliance through plan reviews, site visits, and performance testing as required by the IECC. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Mesa is prohibited by state law to require mandatory benchmarking. We could not find information on any voluntary benchmarking programs administered by the city.
Incentives
Mesa's Energy Resources Department offers a solar program for City of Mesa electric customers for qualified residents and commercial property owners in Mesa’s electric service area
Last Update: September 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Transportation
Score: 5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Mesa Climate Action Plan was released in 2022 and includes sustainable transportation strategies. It also includes strategies specifically benefitting disadvantaged communities.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
The City of Mesa does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Mesa does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Mesa has made changes to its zoning code in the past 10 years to facilitate more residential density, mixed-use development, or transit-oriented development.
Parking Requirement
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Mesa has at least one zone, neighborhood, or district with a parking maximum of 1 or fewer spaces per housing unit or no minimum parking requirement for residential uses.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Mesa offers expedited review and reduced fees for redevelopment projects that fulfill certain walkability and mixed use requirements.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Mesa does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
The City of Mesa does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Mesa does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
We were unable to find information on programs or policies subsidizing access to efficient transportation for disadvantaged groups.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
We could not determine the average funding allocated to transit entities serving the City of Mesa between 2017 and 2021.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Mesa's AllTransit Performance Score of 4.6 was not high enough to qualify for points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Mesa nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Neither the City of Mesa nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Mesa does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Mesa has 19.1 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Mesa nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
Neither the City of Mesa nor the local transit agency have set an electric transit bus goal.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Mesa does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portals
The City of Mesa does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Salt River Project (SRP), a municipally-owned utility (MOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of Mesa. The primary natural gas supplier for Mesa is Southwest Gas, an investor-owned utility. The State of Arizona requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS and documentation of Demand Side Management programs to be filed to the Arizona Corporation Commission before implementation. In 2021, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved new clean energy rules that highlight the role of energy efficiency in carbon emissions reductions. The rules package extends the existing EERS until 2030 and requires a carbon-free grid by 2070. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Arizona page of the State Database.
The City of Mesa Water Department is the municipal utility that provides the City of Mesa with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: September 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, we were unable to verify spending, savings, or customers served for energy efficiency programs offered by SRP or Southwest Gas.
SRP offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers. Southwest Gas similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential and business customers.
At this time, the City of Mesa does not have a formal partnership with Salt River Project or Southwest Gas in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: July 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
SRP provides $725,000 per year to the Arizona Community Action Association to assist in their efforts to improve energy efficiency for low-income customers through the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program offers insulation, window shading, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, air conditioning duct seals, space heating and cooling system equipment, evaporative cooler tune-ups or motor upgrades, and LED bulbs. We were unable to confirm savings and customers served by the program in 2019.
Southwest Gas administers the LIEC Weatherization program for customers. This program includes general weatherization and energy efficiency measures. Water efficiency measures are also included in the program, and the program targets elderly households and people with disabilities. Southwest Gas partners with the Arizona Department of Housing on program delivery. We were unable to confirm savings and customers served by the program in 2021.
Multifamily Programs
SRP’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (MEEP) retrofits existing structures with energy and water conservation measures. The program provides a free on-site walkthrough to assess existing conditions and program suitability, free CFLs and water-saving devices to retrofit tenant spaces, and the program encourages participation in the Standard Business Solutions program for common area upgrades. Savings, spending, and participation data for 2021was not available.
At this time, Southwest Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Salt River Project provides whole-building automated benchmarking data to commercial customers. The City of Mesa releases community-wide energy usage data for residential, commercial, and public sectors on an open data portal. The City of Mesa 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: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, SRP set a carbon reduction goal of 65% by 2035 from 2005 levels and 90% by 2050. We were unable to measure the stringency of the goal due to a lack of baseline and current emissions data.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
We were unable to determine the carbon emissions per capita from SRP in 2019.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Mesa has installed several solar systems on municipal facilities, with a total generating capacity of 1370 kW.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Mesa's Energy Resources Department offers a solar program for City of Mesa electric customers for qualified residents and commercial property owners in Mesa’s electric service area
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
City-wide water efficiency and goals
The energy and water utilities do not offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. At this point, the City of Mesa 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: September 2023
Local Government Score:
2 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 Mesa’s fleet procurement policies or fuel-efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
Mesa has adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting through its Lighting Control Ordinance. Mesa is in the process of replacing older City-owned streetlights with LEDs. All new streetlights are LEDs.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
Mesa has installed several solar systems on municipal facilities, with a total generating capacity of 1376 kW.
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
Mesa tracks energy use at all sites, including electricity, natural gas, and district cooling. Each month sites are sorted by electricity, water, natural gas and district cooling usage.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Annually Mesa calculates EUI for City Buildings. This is used to identify good candidates for energy efficiency projects.
Last updated: June 2021