| Waste Collection Service Alert | | | | The City is keeping our community informed about the status of Fremont's waste collection services by Republic Services. Services are currently being impacted by a work stoppage by local drivers in solidarity with Teamster drivers striking in other U.S. cities. For the latest updates, visit the City's Waste Collection Service Alert webpage. | | | Fremont's Transition to 100% Renewable Energy | | | | Attention, Fremont residents! This August, your electricity service will switch to 100% renewable energy from clean sources like wind and solar. Renewable 100
The City and Ava Community Energy (Ava), Fremont's electricity provider, will designate Ava's Renewable 100 plan as the default electricity service plan for residents. This plan is priced slightly above the other available service plans, costing about $3–$6 more per month than Ava's Bright Choice plan (Fremont's default plan since 2018) and $1–$4 more per month than PG&E. The transition to Renewable 100 will occur this August for residential customers and in August 2026 for commercial customers. CARE, FERA, Medical Baseline, and customers who have opted out of Ava service to PG&E will not be transitioned. Even with Fremont's transition to Renewable 100, you'll still have the same plan options you have now, but you'll need to take action if you don't want your plan to change. To remain on Fremont's current default service plan, Bright Choice (5% below PG&E rates), or opt out of Ava service and select PG&E, visit AvaEnergy.org/Fremont by Wednesday, July 23. You can still change your plan at any time after this date, but it will take one to two billing cycles for a change to take effect, so you will see charges for the Renewable 100 plan on your bill until your change is active. The transition to Renewable 100 is outlined in Fremont's Climate Action Plan, as it will provide cleaner energy to residents and businesses and achieve the high-priority goal of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. Ava Community Energy (Ava)
Ava is a not-for-profit public agency that provides electricity generation service for Alameda County and parts of San Joaquin County. While PG&E still handles the delivery of electricity to your home—including maintaining the electric grid, handling billing, and resolving outages—Ava is responsible for sourcing and supplying the electricity that PG&E delivers. Notices from Ava and the City are currently being mailed to Fremont residents to make sure our community is informed about the transition to Renewabe 100. Be on the lookout for these notifications in your mailbox. For more information, visit AvaEnergy.org/Fremont or contact Ava's customer support team at 833-699-3223 (weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or customer-support@AvaEnergy.org. | | | New Solar + Battery Storage Systems at City Facilities | | | | The City is taking a significant step towards local energy resilience! The Fremont City Council recently adopted a resolution to partner with Ava Community Energy (Ava), Fremont's electricity provider, to install solar and battery storage systems (microgrids) at two City facilities: the Age Well Center at South Fremont and the City-owned building at 37350 Joseph Street which houses the Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank. The installations are part of a new Critical Municipal Facilities Project. While this project was initially considered by the City Council back in December 2024, its scope was adjusted due to recent federal policy changes that impacted the project's finances. The project is an implementation action of the City's Climate Action Plan and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. It will add resilience to two City facilities, allowing them to continue to operate during a power grid outage using microgrids. It will also add clean renewable energy to the grid, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing savings on utility costs to the City. The project will be financed through a power purchase agreement between the City and Ava. The microgrids are expected to be installed at both City facilities by spring 2026. | | | Lake Elizabeth's New Water Quality Measures | | | | Have you visited Lake Elizabeth recently and noticed some changes? Our beautiful lake in Central Park has some exciting new features as part of the City's Lake Elizabeth Water Quality Improvement Pilot Project. These features are designed to help protect the lake's wildlife and make it healthier and more resilient, especially during those hot summer days. Visitors to Lake Elizabeth will now spot these measures on the lake's surface: - Nine vegetated floating islands: These aren't just pretty; they will create vital shaded shelters for fish and provide new habitats for both aquatic and land-based organisms.
- A small fountain and two aerators: These will work together to help stabilize the water temperature, keep the water oxygenated, and improve water circulation to prevent algae growth.
In addition, three monitoring probes have been installed to collect important data. This data will help us understand how effective these new measures are in keeping the lake's temperature and oxygen levels stable. These measures, costing approximately $175,000, are designed to reduce the likelihood of fish die-off events occurring during extreme heat, like the one that occurred in July 2024. If successful, the City may consider these measures for other sections of the lake. Lake Elizabeth, an 83-acre freshwater lake within Fremont's Central Park, serves an important dual purpose: it's designed for flood control and stormwater storage, and it's also a beloved recreational hub for our community. The lake is owned by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (ACFCD) and licensed to the City. With these measures, our goal is for Lake Elizabeth to remain a healthy haven for wildlife and a place our community can enjoy for years to come. We'll continue to provide updates on how the measures are working. Stay tuned! | | | Don't Miss Your Chance to Score a Rebate on a New E-Bike! | | | | We know electric bikes are gaining popularity in our community, so we're excited to share this opportunity from Fremont's electricity provider, Ava Community Energy (Ava). Through their new Ava Bike Electric Program, Ava residential customers and/or Alameda County residents can enter a random drawing for a chance to save $400 to $1,500 on a new e-bike. E-bikes offer tremendous benefits for you and your community: reduced car dependency, improved air quality, better health outcomes, and a fun and flexible way to get around. This program helps remove the biggest barrier to e-bike adoption—cost. Once you apply and are deemed eligible, you'll be entered into monthly random drawings for a chance to receive an instant rebate. Drawings will be held every month until September 2026. Rebates range from $400 to $1,500 depending on bike type and income qualification. Drawing winners from income-qualified households enrolled in electricity reduction programs like CARE, FERA, or EAP can also receive an additional $250 rebate for safety equipment. Two Fremont bike shops are participating in the program and accepting the rebates: CentriPEDAL Bikes and The Bicycle Garage. This makes it easy to shop and support local businesses! | | | Washington Health Receives Environmental Leadership Award | | | | We're excited to share that Washington Health, a City partner for our annual Earth Day Fair, recently received the 2025 StopWaste Environmental Leadership Award for Excellence in Waste Prevention and Food Donation. This award recognizes their efforts in reducing food waste and ensuring that surplus edible food goes directly to nourishing our community. In 2023, Washington Health set up a system to recover surplus food from dining operations and partnered with a local food recovery nonprofit to redistribute it to community members. In the first nine months, they rescued and donated over 13,000 pounds of surplus food, including ready-to-serve meals. In addition, Washington Health integrated a plate warmer system into their dining operations that keeps food warmer longer and has reduced patient plate waste by more than half. They also serve food on reusable dishes and use a system of color-coded bins and custom signage to help staff keep food scraps and recyclables out of the landfill when sorting waste. Way to go, Washington Health, for helping to create a climate ready Fremont! | | | July is Plastic Free Month! | | | | Make a difference this July for Plastic Free Month! This global movement unites people to reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. By avoiding single-use plastics for the month of July, you can help Fremont become a climate ready community. To help you get started, take the Plastic Free July Challenge. Check out this list of simple actions you can take at home and when going out. Thank you for doing your part! - Bring reusable bags or a backpack for all your shopping, not just groceries.
- Use a reusable water bottle.
- Refuse plastic straws or use reusable straws.
- Bring your own reusable utensils when eating out to avoid using plastic utensils. When using a website/app to order meals to eat at home, add a note that utensils are not needed.
- Buy items in glass or metal containers instead of in plastic packaging.
- Visit My Climate Ready Fremont to track your actions, including financial savings and reductions in carbon emissions.
| | | Community Classes & Events | | | | Community Programs and Events at Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Date: July through October
Location: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 2 Marshlands Rd.
Learn More & Register
Take part in several different community programs, events, and volunteer opportunities at Don Edwards from now until October. Take a family walk to learn more about nature. Immerse yourself in nature and give back to the community. Engage in hands-on activities to help maintain and improve the wildlife habitat. Registration is required to participate. Hosted by the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge. | | | | EV Savings with Clean Vehicle Credit
Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Learn More & Register
Federal EV tax credits are ending soon, so it's time to act! Join EV experts to learn how you can make the switch from a gas-powered car to an EV. You'll also get up-to-date information on the Federal Clean Vehicle Credit for new and used EVs, as well as other available incentives. Hosted by Ride & Drive Clean. | | | | Hands on Science: Wetland Wonders
Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Fremont Main Library,
2400 Stevenson Blvd.
Learn More
Explore the wetlands of Coyote Hills! Learn about the plants and animals that have adapted to this environment. Examine real plants, furs, feathers, and skull replicas. No registration required. Hosted by East Bay Parks. | | | | Plant & Cutting Swap
Date: Saturday, August 2
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Fremont Main Library,
2400 Stevenson Blvd.
Learn More
Share and swap houseplant cuttings, seed starts, succulents, bulbs, or extra plants with fellow gardeners. All plant types are welcome. Just remember to label your plants and come prepared to share a few care tips. Hosted by Fremont Main Library. | | | Copyright © 2025 City of Fremont, All rights reserved.
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