Milwaukee
City Scorecard Rank
53
Milwaukee, WI
25.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 4 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Milwaukee adopted a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% below 2018 levels by 2030. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term community-wide 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
Council resolution 190445 established the Climate and Economic Equity Task Force. Membership includes representatives of organizations that represent the interests of marginalized communities. The task force is charged with making recommendations on how to meet Milwaukee's emissions reductions goals (see Climate Action and Energy Planning Goals above) and mitigate racial and income inequity through green jobs. The task force's work can be tracked here, including their preliminary report.
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 supported the creation of a solar field at a closed landfill site near an Air National Guard base. The solar field will integrate with an existing microgrid at the base and provide it with power in the event of an emergency.
Last updated: August 2023
Adaptive Mitigation List All
Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
For both public and private developments, Milwaukee requires developers to install green infrastructure to capture the first half-inch of rainwater on-site. The city also provides incentives for commercial property owners for the installation of green infrastructure such as a credit on the quarterly stormwater management charge.
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
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
Buildings Policies
Score: 6 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Wisconsin requires local jurisdictions to follow the state building codes. Residential construction must follow the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code. The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code incorporates the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Commercial construction must follow the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, which is based on the 2015 IECC. To learn more about Wisconsin’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial construction in Milwaukee complies with the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 52.50. The City of Milwaukee works with USDN to advocate for more stringent state energy codes.
Residential
Residential construction in Milwaukee complies with the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 68.57. The City of Milwaukee works with USDN to advocate for more stringent state energy codes.
Solar-readiness policies
The city does not have authority to adopt an ordinance mandating buildings to be solar ready, but allows solar use in all zones.
EV-readiness policies
The city has not adopted EV-ready ordinances, but it's in the city's Climate and Equity Plan to develop a policy.
Electrification policies
The city does not have authority to adopt electrification policies.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
The Department of Neighborhood Services reviews projects for energy code compliance and inspects projects. We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
The Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) program offers rebates to Milwaukee homeowners for energy efficiency upgrades. Me2 also offers commercial PACE funding and rebates for energy efficiency upgrades for small buildings and manufacturing facilities.
Milwaukee's Targeted Investment Neighborhood and low income weatherization programs grant energy efficiency upgrades and weatherization work to low income homes.
While not earning points under our Scorecard metric, the city aims to develop a new model for efficiently and affordably producing new net-zero energy homes in the City of Milwaukee as a part of the forthcoming Climate and Equity Plan. As part of this effort, the city is building model Net Zero Energy Homes in low income neighborhoods.
Program outcomes
The city collects demographic data on its incentive or financing programs to understand participation rates and allocation of program benefits.
Last Update: September 2023
Transportation
Score: 7.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Milwaukee's Climate and Equity Plan was adopted in 2023 and contains sustainable transportation strategies. It also includes strategies specifically benefiting disadvantaged communities.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
According to the Climate and Equity Plan, the city has a goal of reducing VMT 20% by 2030 from 2018 levels.
The city’s target requires a 2.9% average per-capita annual decrease from its target baseline. Therefore, Milwaukee earned 1 point for the stringency of its target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Milwaukee did not provide VMT data collected since the adoption of its goal; therefore, we cannot assess progress toward the goal.
Last Updated: January 2024
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Milwaukee 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 Requirements
Milwaukee has eliminated parking minimums in certain districts.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Milwaukee does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Milwaukee does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
The City of Milwaukee partners with Bublr to provide a discounted bike share service to people receiving government aid.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Milwaukee have received $66,060,874.60 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $70.04 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
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 Milwaukee’s AllTransit Performance Score is 7.7, scoring 2 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Milwaukee nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
We Energy offers a pilot program to help property owners install electric vehicle charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Milwaukee does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Locations
The City of Milwaukee has 15.4vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Milwaukee nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Neither the City of Milwaukee nor the local transit agency have set an electric transit bus goal.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
Milwaukee does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan. However, Port Milwaukee provides incentives for vessels with low-emissions technologies.
Open Data Portals
The City of Milwaukee does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 17 out of 40 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
We Energies, an investor-owned utility (IOU) and subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, is the primary electric and natural gas utility serving the City of Milwaukee. The State of Wisconsin requires spending and savings targets for its electric and natural gas utilities through a PSC act. The utilities pool their required spending totals into the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewables Administration (SEERA). SEERA is required to create and fund Focus on Energy and to contract, on the basis of competitive bids, with one or more persons to administer the programs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Wisconsin page of the State Database.
Milwaukee Water Works provides drinking water services to the City of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a regional wastewater utility that serves Milwaukee.
Last Updated: September 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, We Energies reported 162,769 MWh of net electric savings at the meter.
In 2019, We Energies reported 6.45 MMtherms of total net natural gas savings at the meter. Savings on electricity represented in this section cover the entire Wisconsin service territory, not just Milwaukee.
Focus on Energy offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential customers.
Milwaukee signed a MOU with the Focus on Energy small business program to market the program as part of its Me2 outreach efforts, and the city has submitted comments to the Public Service Commission expressing its support for strong energy efficiency spending.
Last Updated: September 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Focus on Energy, in partnership with We Energies, provides larger incentives to income-qualified customers for its energy efficiency programs. These larger incentives can be used for participation in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and the Heating and Cooling Improvements programs. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program uses a whole-home energy audit to determine energy-efficient recommendations for the home. The Heating and Cooling Improvements program provides incentives for improvements made to a home’s HVAC systems. The program is not specifically designed for low-income customers but does offer larger incentives for low-income households in order to lower barriers to participation. The programs address both electric and natural gas end uses, include health and safety funds, and address water efficiency, and target high energy users, the elderly, and households with children. Standard installations for the Home Performance program include carbon monoxide detectors, testing for and repairing gas leaks, and completing combustion safety notification forms for the health and safety of our customers.
The We Energies Residential Assistance Program (RAP) is only available to low-income customers and includes a home energy assessment and weatherization measures ranging from attic and wall insulation to dryer venting to LED installation. We Energies partners with local nonprofits and community organizations to identify candidates for their low-income program through participant referrals. They also provide money saving kits to community organizations for distribution to customers.
Focus on Energy provides larger incentives to income-qualified customers for its home energy efficiency programs, such as HVAC equipment upgrades and building shell (air sealing and insulation) improvements. Eligible customers must have household income at or below 80% of the State Median Income (SMI).
In 2021, We Energies and Focus programs achieved 254,918 MWh and 0.46 MMtherms in electric and natural gas energy savings, while spending $33,948,588 and $ $15,674,273 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. We Energies and Focus on Energy served 7,005 electric and natural gas low-income customers.
Multifamily Programs
We Energies, through Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy initiative, offers the Multifamily Energy Savings Program. This comprehensive program offers prescriptive rebates for eligible measures, including common area lighting, and custom incentives for performance-based projects. The Multifamily Direct Install Program offers free, direct installation of LEDs, specialty CFLs, pipe insulation, pre-rinse sprayers, faucet aerators, and showerheads as well as water heater temperature setback services and also offers no-cost vending misers and LED retrofits for exit signs in common areas.
In 2021, We Energies and Focus programs, reported 3,034 MWh and 0.27 MMtherms, while spending $582,014and $209,305 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. We Energies served 8,421 electric and gas housing units.
Last Updated: September 2023
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
We Energies does not provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The city of Milwaukee does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes. In terms of advocacy for policy improvements in data provisions, Milwaukee currently undertakes advocacy efforts though the Refresh Milwaukee plan.
Last Updated: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, We Energies set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 60% by 2025 below 2005 levels, with the utility achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this goal, We Energies will need to reduce emissions by 7.6% annually from 2020 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
The City of Milwaukee advocated to the PSC in favor of solar tariffs and distributed solar generation. In 2018, city officials published a letter to We Energies urging the utility to create large scale renewable energy options. After working with the City, We Energies created two new renewable energy tariffs: Solar Now and the Dedicated Renewable Energy Resource (DRER). After working with the City, We Energies created two new renewable energy tariffs: Solar Now and the Dedicated Renewable Energy Resource (DRER).
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city has supported the creation of a solar field at a closed landfill site near an Air National Guard base. The solar field will integrate with an existing microgrid at the base and provide it with power in the event of an emergency.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Milwaukee has installed approximately 250kW of onsite solar capacity on public libraries. Milwaukee has 2.25 MW of offsite solar capacity through a solar array covering a closed landfill.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Milwaukee's Shines program offers financing and "group-buys" to make solar affordable.
While not earning points under our Scorecard metric, the city aims to develop a new model for efficiently and affordably producing new net-zero energy homes in the City of Milwaukee as a part of the forthcoming Climate and Equity Plan. As part of this effort, the city is building model Net Zero Energy Homes in low-income neighborhoods.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Focus on Energy distributes low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, funded by a surcharge on utility bills. There are no water efficiency goals or full programs in place for the City of Milwaukee.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
MMSD’s Vision 2035 contains climate change mitigation and adaption strategies with an emphasis on energy efficiency, with the goal of being energy self-sufficient by 2035. MMSD has also issued certified climate bonds to support green infrastructure in the community. The regional wastewater treatment plant uses landfill gas to generate energy onsite.
Last Updated: September 2023
Local Government Score:
0.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Change Mitigation Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal climate change mitigation or greenhouse gas reduction goal for Milwaukee.
Energy Reduction Goal
We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Milwaukee.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city of Milwaukee set a goal to use 25% renewable energy to power city operations by 2025.
Last updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Milwaukee has an ordinance directing the City to purchase low- or zero-emission vehicles to the greatest extent practicable. Milwaukee’s fleet is composed of 4% efficient vehicles, including hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Milwaukee has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. Streetlights are timed to operate only when necessary. Although there is no formal replacement program in place, Milwaukee has replaced 15% of their streetlights with LEDs.
Inclusive procurement
While we could not verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes, Milwaukee has purchasing requirements such as the Resident Preference Program and the Small Business Enterprise requirement. Milwaukee has an ordinance that prioritizes hiring businesses that work to reduce barriers to employment (such as hiring returning citizens). They also screen contractors to ensure they meet labor requirements.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
In Milwaukee, all municipal buildings are benchmarked and then exported to Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategies
Milwaukee has implemented HVAC and lighting retrofits in many public buildings. The city has contracted with Edison Energy and has completed work on a Preliminary Energy Reduction Study which provides the foundation of the Comprehensive Energy Plan. The city recently wrapped up a $2 million ESPC and has completed a comprehensive energy assessment of all municipal buildings. Milwaukee has a capital allocation in the City budget each year to make energy efficiency improvements. 4 such projects were completed in 2022.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
Milwaukee offers the Commuter Value Pass to municipal employees, which offers a discounted rate for transit costs using pre-taxed income.
Last update: February 2024