The administration is committed to supporting the growth of the community, while preserving the natural resources of the region and achieving cost savings.
Programs and Initiatives
Global Covenant of Mayors
Mayor John Cooper signed onto the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy in December 2019. This global coalition of more then 10,000 cities and local governments is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emission, making their communities more resilient to climate change and providing access to renewable energy. Nashville’s participation in the Global Covenant of Mayors will require ambitious local climate and energy actions and a transition towards a low-emission, resilient urban environment. This will benefit public and ecological health and lay the foundation for a successful economy.
Mayor Cooper Announces Multiple Initiatives To Combat Climate Change And Promote Sustainability
Sustainability Advisory Committee
ability-advisory-committee/meetings/sustainability-advisory-4″>sustainability advisory committee to support identification and implementation of initiatives in Nashvilles pursuit of conserving natural resources and increasing access to clean air, clean water, and to the natural amenities of a sustainable city. The Committee reviewed potential environmental initiatives in Nashville and Davidson County and focused on key mitigation strategies that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In January 2021, the Committee’s final report with recommendations for climate change mitigation action were submitted. The Committee continues to meet with the Mayor and provide advice on sustainability issues.
Learn more about the Sustainability Advisory Committee
Clean Energy
Metro Council passed legislation in 2019 that established renewable energy standards for Metro Government. It specified phased amounts of carbon-free usage within Metros energy supply portfolio. The goal is to reach 100% total CO2-free energy resources by 2041. This legislation has set the stage for clean energy action throughout Metro operations.
Mayor Cooper announced in 2020 the construction and development a 125 megawatt joint solar array project with Vanderbilt University. This project will put Metro one-third away from achieving the 100% renewable energy supply goal. It will be completed by 2041. The utility-scale, solar power array is being built in Tullahoma in Tennessee with Nashville Electric Service (Tennessee Valley Authority). Mayor Cooper signed up to receive 100MW of the clean-energy produced by the array. Vanderbilt University bought the remaining 20%. The project, which will be operational in 2024 and provide clean-electricity equivalent to powering more than 11,000 homes and removing 14,000 cars from the road each year, will bring about an estimated $6.8million in health benefits.
Each Metro department is also leading the charge in installing clean energy generation capacity. Metro Water Services (MWS) Department has installed three major solar installations at its Central and Whites Creek treatment plants. The 9,777 individual solar panel arrays cover 7 acres. The panels will produce 3.2 MW of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by removing 600 cars from the road. They can also power 500 homes. MWS will have direct access to the solar power generated at their facilities. This will offset an estimated $6M worth of conventional power over 20-years. Additionally, solar arrays have been installed at the Sheriffs Office Downtown Campus (with144 solar panel generating 50.4kW), the Metro Police Department Headquarters (with 864 panels generating 302kW), as well the Bellevue Community Center with 430 panels that generate 150 kW).
Metro offers more information on renewable energy
Greening the Built Environment
The Metro Council unanimously passed legislation in November 2020 to upgrade Nashville’s building codes standards. These new standards significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and the City’s carbon footprint, offer homeowners cost savings, and strengthen tornado resistance home construction requirements.
New Metro Government buildings are seeking green building certifications through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED). The U.S. Green Building Council created LEED, the most widely used green rating system in the world. It is an international symbol of efficiency, sustainability, and design, construction, operations practices that improve the environment and human health.
Learn more about Metro’s green building activities
Mayor Cooper and Department of General Services launched an Energy Savings Program in 2020. This program supports energy efficiency efforts in Metros general administration facilities. It aims to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% and substantial costs.
General Services is now managing an Energy Savings Revolving Fund with the support of Mayor Cooper. It enables continuous measurement and tracking of energy saving projects for all Metro department facilities. This approach provides a broad range energy solutions, including an Energy Management System, design and implementation energy savings projects and energy audits, energy conservation measures and infrastructure retrofits.
Invest in our Tree Canopy
Mayor Cooper and Metro Council introduced legislation to protect trees on public property. Specific legislation states that trees on public property must be managed as an asset. There should be regular progress reports and a review panel. This panel will oversee large-scale tree removals and replace them with robust replacement standards (20% greater than for similar private projects).
Mayor Cooper has also created a dedicated revenue stream to support tree canopy restoration and maintenance on private properties, setting aside a percentage-equivalent of proceeds from Metro building permits, grading permits, and bond-funded construction revenues for the purpose of fully funding the Root NashvilleCampaign to plant 500,000 trees before 2050
Sustainable Management of Solid Waste
Metro Government and the Davidson County Solid Waste Region Board developed a long-term, concrete Solid Waste Management Plan. The ultimate goal is to eliminate waste from landfill. The Master Plan evaluates Metro’s existing waste management system and recommends ways to shift from landfilling to a portfolio that includes reuse, recycling and anaerobic digestion. The plan focuses on developing an integrated system that can divert 90 percent of the city’s waste stream from landfills. This will include increasing waste reduction, diversion and re-use, as well as providing long-term economic and environmental benefits.
More information about Zero Waste Nashville and the Solid Waste Master Plan
40% of American food goes unattended. 95 percent of this food ends up in landfills or incineration. Restaurants can make a significant contribution to reducing this problem by donating excess food to charities that help alleviate hunger. Mayor John Cooper, Zero Waste Nashville and the Nashville Food Waste Initiative challenged local businesses to reduce food waste, donate excess food, and recycle food scraps.
Learn more about the Food Saver Challenge
Alternative and Multimodal Transit
The 2022 WalknBike Plan provides a blueprint to make Nashville more accessible by bike and walking over the next three-years. WalknBike 2022 is the foundation for a faster delivery of projects that can be both constructed and needed.
Mayor Cooper and Metro Nashville are also looking at mass transit system enhancements, as well as the use of electric vehicles and other fuel fleets wherever possible in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases emissions associated with transportation activities within Metro government and throughout the community.
Learn more about Nashville’s Transportation Plan
Parks and Greenways
A strategic masterplan for Metro parks greenways was adopted in 2017. It provides a ten-year vision for meeting Nashville’s park land, greenways and community centers needs. These goals and recommendations are classified under the headings of Land, Facilities, Programs Operations, Funding and the Future.
Learn more about Plan To Play
