City of Orlando
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Types
Clean and Renewable Energy, Climate Justice/Energy Equity, Engagement and Behavior Change, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy
Year
2023
Location
Orlando, FL
Summary
Meixin Wang strengthened the City of Orlando's climate reporting and advanced sustainability goals by supporting renewable energy projects and a pilot program for pollinator habitat.
Goals
The City of Orlando has long prioritized sustainability and is committed to bold climate goals, which require program resources and accurate annual tracking. The city brought on Meixin Wang to report on their emissions and climate resiliency initiatives, with an emphasis on equity.
Solutions
- Climate Reporting: She reached out to municipal departments, major utilities, and transportation authorities to understand their energy usage and emissions. She updated the data-gathering process to include newly required information and enhanced the current report to address food insecurity, energy burden, equity impacts, and resiliency project milestones.
- Renewable Energy: Meixin created a framework to interpret recent developments on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and to understand potential funding opportunities for solar and EV efforts, particularly those that serve low-income communities. She also conducted an environmental compliance review to help acquire a federal grant to retrofit neighborhood centers and improve air quality, simultaneously streamlining the process for future reviews.
- Pollinator Corridors: She researched and presented on the importance of pollinators and habitat preservation, with a special focus on the significance of Orlando as a way-stop for migratory monarch butterflies. Meixin identified how a pilot program to increase habitat aligns with Orlando’s existing commitments and helped pitch the initiative to sustainability team leadership.
Potential Impact
Meixin has strengthened Orlando’s climate reporting and anticipates that the city will receive the Access to Energy badge as part of the Global Covenant of Mayors. From her policy research, Orlando can recoup up to 60% of solar and EV costs, facilitating future projects and moving towards the goalpost of 100% renewably sourced municipal energy by 2030.
She has paved the way for monitoring improved air quality at eight neighborhood centers, six of which are in low-to-moderate income areas, ensuring healthy community spaces and streamlining this process for the future. Orlando now also aims to transform two sites into pollinator habitats, helping increase food security and meet commitments for the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.