Environmental Initiatives Plan

In 2022, the City Council outlined Environmental Initiatives as one of eight priorities for the year. In response, staff drafted an Environmental Initiatives Plan (EIP) and strategy to replace the outdated Environmental Sustainability Plan and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory, which were adopted by the City Council in February 2010 and later updated as part of the Green for Life Program in September 2015.

The EIP was developed by inventorying current internal sustainability-related projects, as well as researching other cities’ plans and projects. As part of the plan, staff developed a project tracker where City-wide sustainability-related projects are added and updated quarterly.

Two goals outlined in the EIP are to update the City’s GHG Inventory and consider hiring a consultant to develop a formal environmental initiatives plan. In 2024, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) began working on a regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) for which Palm Desert would be a beneficiary of. Once the CCAP is completed, which is anticipated in the second quarter of 2025, the City will have an up-to-date GHG inventory and its own climate action plan. This will not only achieve the goals outlined in the EIP but will also make the City eligible for certain grant funding it may otherwise not qualify for.

Quarter Three 2025 - Environmental Initiatives Update

Over the past quarter, the City of Palm Desert has continued making measurable progress on environmental initiatives that support clean energy, sustainable transportation, waste reduction, and climate resilience. Key highlights include:

Clean Energy & City Facilities

• Photovoltaic carport projects continue to advance, with installations completed at the Artists Center and Aquatic Center, and construction underway at Desert Willow Academy.
• Energy audits were completed at City Hall and Desert Willow in partnership with I-REN and The Energy Coalition, identifying opportunities for future efficiency upgrades using federal grant funding.

Sustainable Transportation & Mobility

• EV charging infrastructure planning advanced, including completion of a citywide assessment and coordination with the City’s solar carport projects. Staff is preparing a new Site License Program and evaluating long-term management options for public charging stations.
• Fleet electrification moved forward with City Council approval of a five-year replacement plan and the purchase of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
• Walk and Roll Palm Desert projects progressed, with Phase 2 design completed and Phase 3 design underway, supporting expanded bike lanes, sidewalks, and safer crossings.
• Employee green commuting increased, with more staff participating in walking, biking, carpooling, and electric vehicle programs.

Water Conservation & Sustainable Landscaping

• Water-efficient landscaping improvements continued citywide, including sod removal, native plant installations, and pollinator-supportive designs.
• The City’s Landscape Master Plan advanced, with study sessions and committee reviews completed and final revisions underway to guide future median and streetscape improvements.

Waste Reduction & Recycling

• Recycling and organics outreach expanded, including bilingual education materials, targeted mailers, and direct assistance to multifamily properties and businesses.
• Palm Desert exceeded key state organic waste recovery benchmarks, using mulch for dust abatement, supporting edible food recovery, and partnering with local agriculture.
• Edible food recovery compliance increased, with nearly all Tier 1 and Tier 2 food generators now participating and hundreds of tons of food recovered and redistributed.
• A successful e-waste collection event diverted more than 5.9 tons of electronics from landfills, along with hundreds of pounds of batteries.

Green Building & Parks

• Progress continued on sustainable park projects, including Dave Erwin Park and planning efforts for a future regional park, both designed with water conservation, stormwater management, and habitat support in mind.
• Construction waste management and green pavement practices remain standard across City capital projects.

Climate Action & City Operations

• Virtual inspections expanded, reducing travel-related emissions while maintaining service levels.
• Climate Action Planning moved forward at the regional level, with Palm Desert contributing data and community input toward an updated greenhouse gas inventory and local climate strategies.