Staff propose heat-map approach to track equitable distribution of climate programs

Staff proposed using program-participation heat maps to track equity in the distribution of climate and energy programs, and the commission reviewed a test case comparing the city’s long-running utility discount program with the insulation grant distribution.

Sarah Gardner, climate action staff, told commissioners the city initially used demographic layers and Justice40 census tracts but found those approaches unwieldy and less actionable at the local scale. “We moved on from that to using Justice 40,” Gardner said, but staff noted Justice40 is not a continuing federal program and the census-tract approach can mask variation in small jurisdictions. Staff said they now propose heat maps that show density of program participation so commissioners can compare distributions side by side and identify under-served neighborhoods.

Staff said the utility discount program is a useful proxy for household vulnerability because it is widely distributed, based on income thresholds and includes active outreach (bill notices and staff follow-up). Commissioners asked whether student housing, University Heights (an incorporated area) and other local factors skew maps; staff said students are concentrated downtown and that program patterns should be interpreted carefully. Shayla Harrington, neighborhood services coordinator, will help staff target West Side outreach where the insulation-grant uptake is lower.

Commissioners suggested technical refinements, including normalizing color scales when comparing maps and adding layers for rental vs. owner-occupied properties, lead-service-pipe locations and other housing metrics to better guide targeted outreach. Staff agreed to follow up and present adjusted maps.