City Of Tampa Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decrease Despite Population Growth

Press release from the City of Tampa:

November 4, 2021

The City of Tampa is now releasing the full findings of its Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The inventory, conducted by The Florida Center for Community Design and Research at the University of South Florida, provides an in-depth look at the sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) within the City of Tampa municipal operations and citywide.

The report shows that despite significant population growth, net city-wide GHG emissions have decreased from approximately 6.6 to 5.3M metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (mtCO2e) since 2009. This is primarily due to Tampa Electric Company's (TECO) transition from burning coal to natural gas.

Emissions from energy (mainly electrical) and transportation make up 95 percent of total emissions in the City of Tampa. Solid waste, industrial and other categories contribute approximately five percent of community-wide emissions.

"Here at the City of Tampa, we are going to lead by example,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “With this new information, I am asking every department to find opportunities to embrace clean energy and ensure our citizens see a government that values clean air, new technologies, and sustainability for future generations.”

On-road transportation, commercial and residential energy are the largest contributors of GHG emissions in the City of Tampa. However, as more vehicles transition to electric, transportation emissions are expected to decline.

Currently, Florida has more than 83,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs). The City of Tampa owns 23 fully electric vehicles and 10 EV charging stations with plans to purchase at least new 10 EVs each year.

By category, more than half of City of Tampa government emissions are from management of municipal solid waste (59 percent) followed by electricity (32 percent), wastewater (3.2 percent), and vehicle fleet (4.3 percent).

With this information, the City of Tampa can develop plans to meaningfully reduce GHG emissions and invest in climate-ready infrastructure.

The inventory is just one way the City of Tampa is working to support Mayor Jane Castor’s vision for Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow by establishing sustainability and resilience.

"As the saying goes, ‘you can’t manage what you don’t measure.’ By conducting this inventory, the city can take a laser focus on how to reduce our carbon emissions and be part of the clean energy transition,” said Whit Remer, City of Tampa Sustainability and Resilience Officer.

The last time a GHG inventory was completed for the city was in 2009.

For more information and to see the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Study, visit: https://www.tampa.gov/green-tampa/greenhouse-gas-reduction

This press release was produced by the City of Tampa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.