City of Alameda Wins Top Award for Advancing Decarbonization
Published on June 04, 2026
Alameda Recognized for Leadership on Climate Action
City of Alameda Wins Top Award for Advancing Decarbonization
Long Beach, CA – Today, at the opening day of The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 94th Annual Meeting, twelve U.S. mayors were recognized for their local energy and climate protection programs. Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft accepted the 2026 Mayors’ Climate Protection Award in the Small City category (cities with populations under 100,000) for her city’s Community-wide Equitable Decarbonization Program.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this awards program, celebrating two decades of partnership between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Walmart in recognizing outstanding mayoral leadership on energy and climate action.
“Alameda is demonstrating how renewable energy can provide a reliable and non-polluting
source of electricity to power our cities and showing that clean power can help stabilize — and even reduce — electricity costs for residents and businesses,” said Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft. “While mayors have always been at the forefront of advancing clean energy technologies, Alameda is particularly honored to be recognized on the 20th Anniversary of these awards.
Alameda’s Community-wide Equitable Decarbonization Program is anchored by Alameda Municipal Power (AMP). As the oldest municipal electric utility west of the Mississippi, AMP provides 100 percent clean electricity at rates 45% below neighboring investor-owned utilities.
Key components of the program include:
- AMP rebates: Financial incentives for electric appliances including heat pumps, induction cooking, smart thermostats, used EVs, e-bikes, chargers, and more.
- Permit and code updates: Reduced permit fees for electric appliances and building code amendments that encourage electrification during remodels and replacements.
- City initiatives: An interdepartmental electrification working group and the expansion of curbside and public EV charging.
- Community outreach: Local engagement efforts, including an annual Home Electrification Fair.
- Strategic planning: The adoption of an Equitable Building Decarbonization Plan and the 2025 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP).
“These awards call attention to the innovation and strong leadership of U.S. mayors, who continue to address our nation’s growing climate challenges and shape an energy future that keeps our communities safe, healthy and more sustainable,” said Tom Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors, CEO and Executive Director. “These mayors and so many others demonstrate everyday how local action is a difference-maker, and such efforts serve as a powerful reminder that continuing mayoral leadership is critical to securing this future. We thank Walmart for its longstanding partnership and commitment to the nation’s mayors.”
“Walmart is pleased to be part of honoring the nation’s mayors and their innovation and creativity in finding local solutions to some of the pressing issues before us,” said Amy Hill, Group Director for State & Local Government Relations for Walmart. “On this 20thAnniversary, we are proud to honor this special group of mayors -- and the others before them -- who are doing their part to make our communities stronger and more regenerative."
As part of the award, Walmart will make a contribution to a nonprofit in Alameda that helps foster sustainability in the community. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Sustainability and Resilience Manager Danielle Mieler selected West End Arts District as the recipient to help further their sustainability and climate arts programming and performances in Alameda, which in recent years have included Ocean Photographer of the Year, Ocean Arts 26, DeepDIVE, Rising Tides Alameda, In Plain Site and Somewhere to Land.
"West End Arts District is thrilled to receive this support for our climate arts programming. Our work is deeply inspired by the leadership of the City of Alameda’s Sustainability and Resilience Division,” said Tara Pilbrow, Executive Director of the West End Arts District. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue working together to raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and spark meaningful action."
SMALL CITY HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Hallandale Mayor Joy Cooper – The Cloud; Issaquah Mayor Mark Mullet – Resilience Hub Network; La Crosse Shaundel Washington-Spivey – Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance; Pico Rivera Mayor Gustavo V. Camacho – Climate Action and Adaptation Plan; and Redmond Mayor Angela Birney – Advancing Climate and Housing Goals Through Residential Decarbonization.
LARGE CITY WINNER: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer – Solar and Battery Storage Portfolio
LARGE CITY HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson – Austin Climate Implementation Plan; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu – Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance; Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker – Heat Mapping and Neighborhood Intervention Program; Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins – Building Efficiency 305; and Rochester (MN) Mayor Kim Norton – Thermal Energy Network.
Full descriptions of the 2026 Mayors’ Climate Protection Award winning programs can be found at this link: https://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/2026awards.
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About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.