Sustainable Ames

The City of Ames is committed to becoming a more sustainable organization, promoting conservation, and encouraging renewable energy within our community. As an organization, the City of Ames is committed to making environmentally sound choices in how we operate, in the equipment we purchase, the services we provide, and the policies that guide our organization's decision making. 

Additionally, the City of Ames encourages sustainability through the programs and services we provide to the citizens of Ames. From hybrid public transit buses to bike lanes to electric vehicle charging stations, the City of Ames constantly looks for ways to help citizens make green decisions. Balancing the need to be fiscally responsible with our commitment to a cleaner, greener community, the City of Ames is committed to making the Smart Choice and the sustainable one.

Climate Action Grants

EcoSmart Programs

 Ames Mayor and City Council History of Sustainability Support 

In the past decade, the Ames Mayor and City Council have made sustainability part of its annual goals. Some major milestones include:

• More than 40 years ago, Ames became the first city in the nation to operate a municipal waste-to-energy facility. The Arnold Chantland Resource Recovery Plant takes in garbage from throughout Story County, pulls out metals for recycling, and processes the burnable trash into refuse derived fuel (RDF). RDF is sent to the Ames Power Plant to provide a supplemental fuel for producing electricity.

• In 2016, the Ames Power Plant converted from coal to cleaner burning natural gas reducing its carbon footprint by 40 percent.
   
• More than 10 years ago, the Ames mayor joined mayors from across the country in signing the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Part of signing the agreement involves conducting a baseline inventory of energy usage, collecting data about energy management, recycling, waste reduction, transportation, and land use. While Ames is working hard on going green, we are encouraging our residents to do the same.

• Greenhouse Gas Inventory was completed in 2020. This data will provide a foundation from which to build a climate action plan and community goals for reduction.

• In June 2023, City Council accepted the Climate Action Plan and Six Big Moves as a path forward to meet the City Council’s sustainability goals.

• In July 2024, the City of Ames hired it's first full time Sustainability Coordinator, Nolan Sagan. The Sustainability Coordinator serves as a resource for the community and City departments on implementation of the Climate Action Plan. The City previously partnered with Iowa State University to share a Director of Sustainability/Sustainability Coordinator position for more than 10 years.

• Reach out to Nolan with any questions, comments, or concerns at Nolan.Sagan@cityofames.org or 515-239-5227.

Rebates

To promote conservation of resources, rebates are available for Prime Time Power, residential new construction, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, heat pump water heaters, high efficiency appliances, residential and commercial photovoltaic (solar) systems, native landscape, rain barrel, rain garden, soil quality, and composting.

Click here for Smart Energy Residential Rebate Programs (Prime Time Power, new construction, high efficiency  heating and cooling equipment, heat pump water heaters, high efficiency appliances, photovoltaic systems)

Click here for Smart Energy Commercial Rebate Programs (high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, heat pump water heaters, high efficiency appliances, photovoltaic systems)

Click here for Smart Watersheds Rebate Programs (native landscape, rain barrel, rain garden, soil quality, composting)

Sustainability by the Numbers

• 3,471: Number of LED street lights (and counting)

• 40: The percent reduction of greenhouse gases annually by the Ames Power Plant since converting to natural gas

• 36: Number of megawatts of power purchased from a wind farm

• 12: Number of hybrid buses

• 11: Number of programs offering rebates promoting conservation of resources

• 8: Number of glass recycling locations (14 countywide)

• 11: Number of electric vehicle charging stations

• 1: First in the nation public waste-to-energy facility built in 1975