TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
2025 Salem Climate Action Plan Annual Progress Report.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Natural Environment Stewardship; Safe and Healthy Community; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
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Provide the 2025 Climate Action Plan Annual Progress Report to Council.
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ISSUE:
Information only.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Salem Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a long-term plan designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase Salem’s resiliency to climate change. The Plan was accepted by City Council on February 14, 2022, and a Mayor appointed CAP Committee was created to oversee implementation. The CAP Committee meets bi-monthly to review strategies and receive updates from staff and community partners. The 2025 CAP Committee included Councilor Varney, Ward 8 (Chair), Councilor Tigan, Ward 1; Councilor Matthews, Ward 3; Councilor Nordyke, Ward 7; and Councilor Nishioka, Ward 2 (Alternate). The CAP Annual Progress Report (Attachment 1) provides a summary of implementation efforts that were completed or initiated in 2025. The report was presented to the CAP Committee on February 17, 2026. Some highlights from the report are provided below:
Strategy EN 4: Using a reporting platform to report greenhouse gases regularly
• Using Power BI platform, the Climate Action Plan Strategies dashboard reports on strategy progress as phase 1 of the reporting process and is accessible to public viewing on the webpage.
Strategy EN 12: Develop a Comprehensive Approach to Increasing Energy Efficiency in Municipal Buildings
• The City was awarded $214,750 to create a Municipal Energy Master Plan
• The Municipal Energy Master Plan created a framework for assessing Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) and a pathway to achieving cost-effective energy efficiency and finding funding mechanisms to achieve those upgrades.
• City of Salem has enrolled in the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Strategic Energy Management program to provide incentives for energy conservation.
• In Strategic Energy Management’s first year, the City earned $5,000 for meeting all of the first year milestones and has created an internal Green Team.
Strategy EN 28: Evaluate local community renewable energy projects at City-Owned properties
• The City was awarded $100,000 as a planning grant for micro-hydroelectric turbines to be used in-line above and below Franzen Reservoir in the City of Turner. The conceptual design was completed and additional $199,000 was funded for the City to complete 60% design for in-line hydro below Franzen Reservoir.
BACKGROUND:
On October 12, 2020, City Council adopted two goals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Salem: (1) By 2035, Salem’s GHG emissions shall be reduced to 50 percent of the citywide greenhouse gas emissions for the baseline year of 2016, and (2) by 2050, Salem should be carbon neutral. For 18 months, City staff worked with a consulting firm, a 41-member Task Force, and multiple stakeholders to produce a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Salem with the strategies necessary to reduce GHG emissions and to achieve the two Council-adopted goals.
The CAP serves as a guide for actions over many years that may include Council-directed implementation of new initiatives, programs, plans, partnerships, regulations, and projects.
The Salem CAP is available on the City website at: <https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/natural-environment-climate/climate-action-plan>
The complete list of 183 strategies in the Salem CAP can be found in Appendix 8.
Jason Pulley
AIC Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Salem Climate Action Plan 2025 Annual Report.