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Energy

Essential energy use in our homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure is responsible for 70% of our community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As our energy demand grows, the City of Columbia is committed to an equitable transition to more renewable sources while ensuring our community’s resilience.


The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) identifies two key energy sector goals:


    1. Increase the generation and use of renewable energy sources, including on-site solar and energy storage.
    2. Improve energy efficiency and demand management (how and when customers use energy). 

Energy

Be Part of the Solution!

Your actions can make a big difference in Columbia's clean energy future! 

We offer a variety of residential energy efficiency programs, including solar rebates. Explore which ones work for you!
The City of Columbia has programs that help its citizens get the energy they need.
Understanding energy inefficiencies at your business may be your first step in saving money on your electric costs. Contact Columbia Water & Light for help!

Renewable Energy Goals

Adaptation Measures in Action!

Columbia Water & Light's agreement with the Truman Solar facility has eliminated the need to burn approximately 9,000 tons of coal annually. 

Truman Solar facility:

  • Consists of 35,019 solar panels over 90 acres 
  • Produces over 22,000 MWh annually 
  • Eliminates the need to burn 9,000 tons of coal annually (equivalent of removing 3,500 passenger vehicles from the road!) 

The agreement will contribute to Water & Light's progress renewable energy goals supported by the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. 

Watch the video covering the Truman Solar Farm.

Columbia's Renewable Energy Sources

Columbia is committed to increasing the percentage of its electricity supplied from renewable energy sources. In 2023, 21.8% of electricity supplied from the City of Columbia electric utility was from renewable sources. The majority came from wind and landfill gas harvested from our municipal landfill. While we did generate electricity from solar, the amount was much smaller than these other two sources. The current renewable energy ordinance goal is 30% renewable electricity by 2028.

See the City of Columbia’s Renewable Energy Plan 

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Strategies and Actions

Columbia’s CAAP identifies several strategies for achieving our Renewable Energy goals, including: 

  • Revisiting and adjusting Columbia’s Renewable Energy Ordinance 
  • Expanding incentives for Renewable Energy installation 
  • Offering a community solar program option 

Learn more about them here.

Local Energy Resilience

Energy Resilience

Increasing grid resilience helps support the City’s energy supply in times of natural disaster and peak energy demand. For example, distributed energy storage can help smooth out the peaks and valleys of wind and solar energy and improve community capacity to maintain electricity with regional outages. Additionally, behavior change can help the utility manage peak demand during the hottest parts of the summer. Reducing peak demand helps the utility and ratepayers save money and prevent outages.