Check out How Green Fremont is!

Find out the latest Sustainability news for Fremont.

View this email in web browser.   May 2023 New Active Transportation Plan The City wants to hear from you! In the coming months, the City will be seeking your input on how using "active transportation" can become a better experience for you and your family. This could include walking to your local park, school, or transit stop; bicycling to your favorite trail or cafe; rolling in a wheelchair or on a scooter to visit friends; or even just taking a neighborhood stroll for fresh air and exercise. A new Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is being prepared for Fremont that will identify and prioritize improvements to work on for the next five years. Do you need a sidewalk fixed? A safer way to cross a busy street? A more comfortable route for riding a bicycle? Check out the MyFremont webpage to learn more about the plan and the different ways you will be able to provide input. You can also sign up for a mailing list to receive the latest updates. Learn More Fremont Bike Month Did you know it's Bike Month? On Tuesday, May 2, the Fremont City Council adopted a resolution proclaiming May to be Bike Month in Fremont. To celebrate, Fremont residents are encouraged to participate in various bike activities this month and experience the fun of biking to any destination—from traveling to work or school, running errands, or visiting friends! For a complete list of bike events taking place this month, including Bike to Work/Wherever Day on May 18, please visit the Fremont Bike Month webpage. Also, check out these local bike routes that can be used for both recreation, exercise, or errands.  View Bike Events East Bay Green Home Tour Want to go green at home but not sure where to start? Check out East Bay Green Home Tour, a FREE virtual tour on Saturday, May 20 at 10 a.m. See and hear what East Bay residents are doing with their homes to address climate change, improve air quality, generate clean energy, save water, and save money. The tour features a variety of homes, live Q&A sessions with homeowners, and short presentations on relevant topics like rebates, solar, and induction cooking. Experts will also be available in the chat to answer your questions. Register now to increase your knowledge to take the next steps towards a greener home! Register for Tour Sustainability Commissioner Highlight Fremont's own Shreya Ramachandran was recently featured in People Magazine! Shreya serves as the Student Representative Commissioner on the City's Environmental Sustainability Commission, which advises the Fremont City Council on emerging policies and issues related to environmental sustainability.  Shreya founded the Grey Water Project, a nonprofit aimed at promoting water conservation and the safe reuse of grey water (lightly used water from sinks, showers, baths, and laundries that has been used once and can be used again) through outreach, advocacy, policy changes, and education. The article highlights Shreya's work in spreading the word about safely reusing grey water. Shreya speaks about the importance of focusing on water challenges when discussing climate change and climate action. Read Article Battery Development & Manufacturing in Fremont In the latest issue of Western City Magazine, the City's Economic Development Director Donovan Lazaro shares how City staff has cultivated unrivaled expertise in understanding the needs of advanced manufacturing industries. The strategic steps the City took to develop a robust battery development and manufacturing environment have successfully built a rapidly growing cluster, counting nearly 50 battery or clean energy technology companies located in Fremont today. Read Article Updates to Federal EV Tax Credit This past March, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the new rules for the federal electric vehicle tax credit. A number of electric vehicles (EVs) are now eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. However, due to new rules regarding vehicle price limits and the exclusion of particular vehicles, the tax credit is confusing prospective buyers. There may be questions about which vehicles qualify and whether certain models are considered cars or SUVs for purposes of the credit. To help provide answers, the City is sharing this Tax Incentives webpage from the U.S. Department of Energy. It explains which vehicles qualify for specific tax credits. In addition to purchasing an EV, many dealers are now offering a $7,500 lease incentive as a way to capture the value of the tax credit. In this case, prospective buyers should find out if the lease contract permits a purchase option/lease buyout at the end of their lease or if they will be required to return the vehicle without an option to purchase it. Incentives for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades Did you know that there are a variety of incentives and rebates available for contractors, homeowners, and renters who want to install energy-efficient appliances or make other home upgrades? The Switch is On website provides easy access to this information. Just type in your zip code and see what's available! View Incentives FUSD Celebrates Environmental Education Partners The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) recently published an article highlighting their local partners in environmental education, including the City of Fremont. The City would like to thank FUSD for being a partner in helping Fremont reach its climate action goals and become a climate ready community! Read Article Community Classes & Events Bike to Work/Wherever Day 2023 Date: Thursday, May 18 Time: 7:00am - 9:00am Locations: Centripedal Bikes, Washington Hospital, South Fremont/Warm Springs BART Station, Lam Research Learn more View Fremont locations on map Bike to work or wherever on Thursday, May 18 and visit a Fremont energizer station to receive a tote bag filled with goodies! Hosted by Bike East Bay.  Plant and Cutting Swap Date: Saturday, May 27 Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm Location: Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Learn more Bring house plant cuttings, extra plants, seed starts, succulents, bulbs, or tubers to share and swap with other gardeners. All types of plants are welcome. Please label each plant and be ready to share basic care information. Hosted by Fremont Main Library. EVs For Backup Power Date: Wednesday, May 31 Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm Location: Online Event Learn more and register Did you know that you can power up your home with an EV during a power outage? Join EV experts to learn how EVs can power up all things electric, from your cell phone to your entire home, and act as a battery on wheels when you're on the road. Hosted by Ride & Drive Clean.  Help the City turn your thoughts into actions!  my.fremont.gov