County presents climate action plan Year‑1 progress; consultant Firebrand hired for outreach
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Summary
Los Alamos County sustainability staff told council they completed four Year‑1 actions, contracted Firebrand for climate marketing and engagement, published draft fleet and EV charging plans, installed six EV chargers at the county building and advanced designs for DC fast chargers at Mesa Public Library, with a community EV plan due in March.
Los Alamos County’s sustainability manager presented a Year‑1 implementation update for the Climate Action Plan on Feb. 17, 2026, reporting completion of several initial actions and a multi‑pronged outreach approach to accelerate electrification and reduce single‑occupancy vehicle trips.
Staff said the county is implementing 13 actions across Years 1 and 2: four completed, four in progress and four upcoming. The county selected Firebrand through a scope‑of‑work to provide climate marketing and engagement services under a seven‑year agreement; staff said Firebrand will lead public education campaigns, beginning with an Earth Day debut and additional community meetings, including outreach aimed at the LANL workforce.
The presentation highlighted recent products and projects: a draft fleet conversion plan and a communitywide EV charging plan (staff expect a final presentation in March), six EV chargers installed at the county building (463 unique charging sessions reported through early February), procurement/design work for two DC fast chargers at Mesa Public Library (partially funded by an NMDOT grant) and planning for a solar array at Foxtail Flats.
Councilors asked about program design and scope. A councilor asked whether a proposed tariff/on‑bill financing program could be retroactive; staff said program design options are flexible and retroactivity is not expected but could be built into the program if desired. Councilors also discussed contamination in the recycling stream (staff identified plastic bags, yard trimming, Styrofoam and motor oil as common contaminant items) and asked about coordinating commuter trip reduction with LANL and Atomic City Transit; staff said LANL outreach is a priority and Firebrand will help open those channels.
Why it matters: the update sets timelines for near‑term deliverables (fleet and EV charging plans) and signals the county’s move from planning to public engagement and implementation. It also identifies funding sources under consideration (NMDOT grants, potential on‑bill financing) and invites council input on local code and resilience priorities.
What’s next: staff will present final fleet conversion and EV charging plans at the March meeting, continue design and procurement for DC fast chargers, and begin broader community engagement with Firebrand.
