Strategic Energy Action Plan
Background
Data & Metrics
SEAP Reports
Outreach & Communications
SEAP+ Implementation
Background
On May 27, 2025, Charlotte City Council adopted the Strategic Energy Action Plan Plus (SEAP+)(PDF, 9MB) - an updated and expanded roadmap for reaching the city's climate and energy goals. SEAP+ builds on the 2018 plan and outlines bold goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to clean energy and create a more resilient community.
SEAP+ Overview Video Transcript
- Charlotte’s Strategic Energy Action Plan Plus (SEAP+): Plan in Brief
- Charlotte will lead, as a global city, by continuously improving, protecting, and preserving the environment, its community, and economy, while ensuring equity and resilience - for today’s and future generations.
- The “plus” in SEAP+ highlights the new addition of a climate risk assessment, creating a stronger link between energy transitions and climate challenges.
- Analysis & Goal Setting:
- Per Capita GHG Emissions reduced by 30% 2019 - 2023.
- Improved methodologies show Charlotte is more efficient than national averages.
- Duke Energy’s electricity grid is getting cleaner.
- Charlotte is becoming more efficient overall.
- Residents are adopting more sustainable vehicles, like electric and hybrid vehicles.
- Climate Risk Assessment - Extreme Heat:
- Rated the climate risk of highest concern in the SEAP+ public survey.
- Charlotte has seen a 300% increase in extreme heat days.
- Community-wide goals
- Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 72% (to 3.56 mt CO2e per capita) by 2035 and reach net-zero by 2050.
- Install 600 MW of distributed renewable energy generation in Charlotte by 2035.
- Municipal Goals
- Source 100% of electricity use in municipal buildings from zero carbon sources by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions in municipal buildings by 2050.
- Reach net-zero emissions in light-duty fleet by 2035 and entire fleet by 2050.
- Strategies & Implementation
- Buildings Focus Area
- Strategy 1: Source 100% of electricity use in municipal buildings from zero carbon sources by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
- Strategy 2: Transition residential buildings to be zero carbon by 2050.
- Strategy 3: Transition non-residential (commercial & industrial) buildings to be zero carbon by 2050.
- Energy Generation Focus Area
- Strategy 4: Reach net-zero emissions from electricity generation by 2050.
- Strategy 5: Strive toward 600MW of distributed renewable energy generation in Charlotte.
- Strategy 6: Develop a suite of educational tools.
- Transportation Focus Area
- Strategy 7: Reach net-zero emissions in municipal light-duty fleet by 2035 and entire fleet by 2050.
- Strategy 8: Support reaching a 50-50 mode share by 2040, per the Strategic Mobility Plan (SMP).
- Strategy 9: Facilitate rapid uptake of zero-carbon mobility options.
- Cross Sectional Focus Area
- Strategy 10: Continue to develop a smart data approach.
- Strategy 11: Promote waste reduction and diversion throughout Charlotte.
- Strategy 12: Establish Public-Private-Plus partnerships.
- Strategy 13: Coordinate and support Tree Canopy Action Plan.
- Strategy 14: Promote climate resilience throughout Charlotte.
- Strategy 15: Support efforts to optimize water usage.
- How can you help Charlotte reach our goals?
- Use people power when you can (e.g. walk, bike, etc.).
- Keep your eye out for the Solarize Charlotte Mecklenburg program!
- Replace HVAC and water heater with Energy Star labeled heat pumps.
- Install sensors for lighting control.
- Leave lawn clippings in place.
- Thank you!
Newsletters
February 7th, 2025(PDF, 456KB)
January 10th, 2025(PDF, 537KB)
December 6th, 2024(PDF, 751KB)
November 1st, 2024(PDF, 448KB)
October 4th, 2024(PDF, 309KB)
Data & Metrics
A key to implementing lasting change is to highlight measures of success and monitor the data over time. For the Sustainable Energy Action Plan, we have the SEAP+ Dashboard. The interactive dashboard gives users insight on progress toward achieving the SEAP+ goals, originally adopted by City Council in 2018. The goals focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supporting actions that support a healthy, sustainable community.
Additionally, we have a dashboard focused on our voluntary benchmarking program, Power Down the Crown. This dashboard hosts data on the city's benchmarked buildings, as well as those from our community partners.
These dashboards are an important step in allowing us to see how effective the programs, initiatives, projects, and policy changes are for long-term change in Charlotte. Information from the dashboards will be used to review how successful efforts have been and will offer feedback to support ongoing efforts.
Please use the links below to find more information about our data and measures of success:
SEAP+ Implementation
SEAP+ Dashboard
Power Down the Crown
SEAP Reports
The Office of Sustainability and Resiliency produces reports annually to share information, highlight changes in data, and communicate project, program, and initiative information related to sustainability efforts across the city.
The Strategic Energy Action Plan Annual Reports are yearly updates on the City of Charlotte's success metrics for sustainability work, highlighting the polices enacted and in action over the last calendar year, as well as cumulative efforts since the SEAP+ was adopted. There has been a report published since 2019, helping to show the continued efforts toward the City's 2030 and 2050 sustainability goals.
The inaugural Charlotte Energy Performance Benchmarking Report for Municipal Buildings was developed and published for 2020-2021, with annual reporting in subsequent years. This report focuses on the energy use intensity (EUI) for City of Charlotte buildings split out by property type - offices, police stations, fire stations, vehicle repair garages and other. This report helps to highlight the efficiency of our buildings and visualize efforts to conserve energy.
Please see below for the links to our reporting!
Charlotte Energy Performance Benchmarking Report for Municipal Buildings
One of the requirements of the SFP is for the city to annually benchmark city buildings. As a result, the inaugural Charlotte Energy Performance Benchmarking Report for Municipal Buildings was developed and published 2020-2021, with annual reporting in subsequent years. This report focuses on the energy use intensity (EUI) for City of Charlotte buildings split out by property type - offices, police stations, fire stations, vehicle repair garages and other. This report helps to highlight the efficiency of our buildings and visualize efforts to conserve energy.
Charlotte Benchmarking Reports
Outreach & Communications
This will be where you can find information on our communications that may be viewed across various platforms.
Community Engagement and Outreach