Anchored on the goals of the Climate Justice Plan, Mayor Smiley signed into law the Energy Efficiency and Carbon Neutral Goals for Municipal Buildings Ordinance in March 2024. This commitment to lead by example in phasing out fossil fuels from all municipal buildings by 2040 marked a historic commitment by Providence to unlock the economic, health and environmental benefits of improving our public buildings.
The City commissioned the drafting of a Decarbonization Roadmap for all of Providence’s municipal buildings to advance the lead by example goals of its Climate Justice Plan and to establish a clear pathway for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal buildings. It provides a framework to guide investment decisions and inform prioritization of projects as Providence works toward eliminating on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings by 2040.
Mayor Smiley also signed into law Providence’s first-ever climate focused dedicated fund, the Green Revolving Fund, in May 2026. This fund dedicates City funds to renewable energy and decarbonization and further underscores Mayor Smiley’s commitment to bolstering climate resiliency and positions the City of Providence as a national leader in the green economy.
