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Bozeman’s 2024 greenhouse-gas inventory shows modest overall rise; per‑capita emissions steady
Summary
City staff presented the 2024 greenhouse-gas inventory showing a 3% increase in total emissions from 2022 to 2024 driven by transportation (+5%) and solid waste (+18%), while per-capita emissions remain 17% below the 2008 baseline; staff cited population growth as the main driver of total increases.
City sustainability staff presented Bozeman’s 2024 greenhouse-gas emissions inventory to the City Commission on Sept. 9, reporting a 3% increase in total community-wide emissions from 2022 to 2024 and noting different trends across sectors.
Sustainability program analyst Kelsy Carlson Ham summarized the results: transportation emissions rose 5% and solid‑waste emissions rose 18%, while commercial and residential building emissions declined slightly. The city’s total 2024 emissions were about 35% above the 2008 baseline year, but per‑capita emissions were 17% below that same baseline, reflecting rapid population growth (62% since 2008).
"Our per‑person emissions are actually decreasing while overall emissions are being driven up by population growth," Carlson Ham said. Staff highlighted increased installed solar potential (estimated 8–9 MW DC), the opening of electric-ready Fire Station No. 2 with a PV system and organics-collection and diversion programs intended to mitigate landfill contributions.
City staff emphasized that building-sector emissions account for roughly half of the community’s total (commercial ~28%, residential ~22%) and noted local gains from building-code improvements and solar installations. The commission did not take action but requested staff continue to pursue emissions‑reduction measures and report back on progress toward 2025 and 2030 climate goals.
