On June 2, the U.S. Conference of Mayors recognized Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Denver’s Climate Protection Fund with the First Place in a Large City category of the Mayors Climate Protection Award. The award, announced publicly this morning during the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 91st Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH., honors distinguished leadership in addressing the impacts of climate change in cities.
Denver’s Climate Protection Fund (CPF) is one of the first taxpayer-supported funds in the United States dedicated to local climate action. Through a 0.25% sales tax, the CPF generates $40 million or more each year to make investments in the areas of Adaptation and Resiliency, Buildings and Homes, Environmental Justice, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Transportation, and Workforce Development. Across each of the focus areas, the CPF must also strive to invest at least 50% of the funds to Denver’s most climate-vulnerable communities, with a lens on equity, racial and social justice.
“As mayors, we’re called upon by our communities to be leaders on climate action. In Denver, we’ve answered that call and are addressing the climate crisis with hope and action,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “The people of Denver made an investment in our future with the Climate Protection Fund, and we couldn’t be prouder that they’re seeing the tangible benefits of this investment as they ride their e-bikes to the grocery store, enjoy the shade of trees in their neighborhoods and power their homes with clean energy.”
“Every city’s first challenge in tackling climate change is funding. We know that people across Denver are supportive of climate action and want to see our city work toward a healthier and more sustainable future,” said Grace Rink, Denver’s Chief Climate Officer. “The sales tax behind the Climate Protection Fund was approved by 62% of Denver voters. Not only has this provided funding for projects – like scores of solar arrays and thousands of e-bikes – it also funds the staff needed to implement the work.”
The sales tax that funds the voter approved CPF was developed through a Climate Task Force stakeholder process spurred by Mayor Hancock, Denver City Council, and engaged community advocates.
Since 2021, Denver’s CPF has funded programs that are already making a difference in the Denver community and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These CPF-funded programs include:
- Launching the City of Denver’s popular e-bike rebate program. More than 5,000 Denverites have taken advantage of Denver’s e-bike rebates and have cumulatively replaced an estimated 100,000 vehicles miles traveled and reduced 48 tons of greenhouse gas emissions weekly. Offering the e-bike vouchers at the point-of-sale is the major innovation that reduces the upfront cost to the consumer rather than them paying the full price upfront and getting the rebate paid back later.
- Planting 2,200 trees on private property in low-income neighborhoods with low tree canopy.
- Installing 15MW of solar power across 11 arrays on government-owned property, with 30% of the power reducing monthly bills for hundreds of low-income households.
- Fully electrifying the homes of 200 low-income households in apartments and single-family homes.
- Subsidizing the cost for 425 homeowners to retire their gas furnaces and replace them with electric heat pumps.
- Subsidizing 1,000 workforce training positions from career exploration for high school students through paid, on the job apprenticeships in solar installation, HVAC and mechanical trades, and natural areas management.
- Funding micro-transit services (neighborhood circulators) in low-income communities, filling gaps not served by the area’s mass transit system.
- Conducting 50 neighborhood-based focus groups, including youth, in Denver’s 10 most climate vulnerable communities, to identify their climate solutions and shape Environmental Justice programs to be funded by the CPF.
Learn more about Denver’s Climate Protection Fund
Learn more about the 2023 Mayors Climate Protection Awards
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