City of Muskegon Addressing Climate Action
2023
In April 2023, the Muskegon City Commission adopted a resolution declaring its commitment to climate action initiatives and to combat the impact of climate change on our community and planet. The city is committed to reduce the risks of climate change by implementing actions that save money, improve productivity, and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically of city-owned assets and infrastructure. The objective is to reduce the GHG emissions from city-owned buildings, facilities, vehicles, waste and land through deliberative budget, policy, and administrative actions.
The Commission directed that an organizational-wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG) be developed in early 2024. The document would be used to set target reductions with the goal of eliminating the organization’s GHG emissions by 2040.
In Fall 2023, the city solicited proposals from qualified firms to conduct an organizational-wide GHG Inventory. Results of the inventory would be used by the city to manage GHG risks and identify reduction opportunities as well as participate in voluntary or mandatory GHG programs.
This effort addresses one of the City Commission’s stated goals of improving environmental sustainability for projects within the city. In 2023, the city also established a Climate Action Workgroup which consists of staff dedicated to addressing ways to reduce the impact of climate change on city-owned assets and infrastructure.
2024
The results of the GHG Inventory were used to develop an organizational-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP). In November 2024, a contract was approved to have Fresh Coast Climate Solutions draft the CAP. The City received approval of a $75,000 Community Energy Management Program grant through EGLE to offset the cost of the contract.
2025
In June 2025, the Muskegon City Commission adopted the CAP which includes assets owned and operated by the city. The CAP establishes a roadmap for achieving net zero GHG emissions from municipal operations by 2040. The Plan positions Muskegon to secure funding and adopt emerging solutions in sustainability.
The intended outcomes of this Climate Action Plan are as follows:
- Position the city to leverage funding opportunities to implement climate action initiatives
- Reduce city operational costs through improved efficiency
- Reach net zero GHG emissions from municipal operations by 2040
- Enhance the resilience of city operations and city-owned land
- Each of these outcomes will strengthen city operations while reducing the environmental impact of the city as an organization.
This CAP’s content is organized into 5 focus areas, 18 objectives, and 97 actions. The CAP’s Focus Areas include – Buildings and Facilities; Transportation; Waste; Land Use & Resilience; Implementation.
Understanding which facilities are the highest contributors to the City’s organizational GHG emissions can inform investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and operational improvements to maximize emissions reductions.
You can find the CAP, an updated GHG Inventory, and other supporting documents in the box titled Popular Documents.