BOISE, Idaho — While driving through downtown Boise, you'll see plenty of cranes, cars and Boise City Hall touting the city's plans to be carbon-neutral by 2050.
The City of Boise developed a climate action plan in 2021 with the end goal of carbon neutrality.
"How we get there is we measure the amount of greenhouse gasses that we're emitting, and we want to reduce those over time from what they are currently - down to zero," Steve Hubble, climate action manager for the City of Boise Public Works said.
Greenhouses gas emissions in our communities can come from two main sources: Energy used in buildings, and energy used in the transportation grid - such as cars and buses.
"We want to look at new technologies and changes over time that reduce the use of those fossil fuels and transition to clean energy sources," Hubble said.
The climate action plan starts by transitioning city buildings to clean energy and then going carbon neutral. The plan aims to attain a carbon-neutral city government by 2035 and make the City of Trees a carbon-neutral community by 2050.
"Is 2050 attainable? I think so," Idaho Conservation League Climate Program Manager Adrian Gallo said. "Boise is really sprinting, and they're sprinting quick."
The Idaho Conservation League said a large part of going carbon neutral comes down to switching to different types of clean energy.
"There are three main ones, but they're not the only ones. Wind, solar and batteries are going to be driving our energy system," Gallo said. "They're incredibly important, and they are far cheaper than getting energy from fossil fuel sources today."
The City of Boise also has an advantage with the largest direct-use geothermal heating district in the country. Geothermal is currently used to heat 96 buildings in downtown Boise.
"Here in Idaho, geothermal is going to play a role," Gallo said. "And in the future, nuclear is going to play a role."
Boise's climate action plan has seen several milestones, including an agreement with Idaho Power to transition the Boise Airport and Lander Street Water Renewal Facility to clean energy. The city is also working to transition its fleet to electric vehicles.
Officials said it is a plan for the future to protect the health of generations to come.
"Those members of our community who are going to be the most greatly impacted by climate change - we think about their health," Hubble said. "We're starting to explore and pull out the big linkages between public health and climate change. And we know that making our community more resilient to those changes that are coming is going to be important."
Hubble says the city is currently accessing options for federal funding that supports climate work. Boise was recently approved for a $4 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to help install electric vehicle charging stations in the city.
The full climate action plan and timeline for goals can be viewed here.
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