Dane County Internal Emissions Progress

In 2017 Dane County Executive Joe Parisi set the goal that the electricity used in county operations be 100% renewable offset by 2025. In 2023 Dane County achieved that goal ahead of schedule.

• Before 2020 Dane County had rooftop solar on more than a dozen county facilities, but these installations represented a small portion of the County’s electricity.
• In December 2020 the solar at the Dane County airport came online, increasing the county’s renewable electricity substantially starting in 2021. 
• In mid-2023 Yahara Solar came online, taking the County to 100% renewable offset.
• Going forward, as the County electrifies more facilities and lfeet, staff will ensure that Dane County remains 100% renewable offset through new solar projects.

Carbon Neutrality in Facilities, Fleet, and Land Operations

In his 2022 budget the County Executive set the goal that Dane County’s facility, fleet and land operations be carbon neutral by 2030.

This carbon neutrality goal means that, by 2030, on an annual basis the total emissions from Dane County's facilities and fleet will be equal to (or less than) the amount of natural carbon sequestration Dane County achieves through the county's land operations (restoring land to prairie, for example).

The graph below illustrates the carbon neutrality goal: as emissions are reduced and the amount of verified natural carbon sequestration increases, these two bars will meet in 2030, achieving carbon neutrality. 

Facility and Fleet Emissions 

Dane County's emissions from facilities and fleet include all of the following:

• Grid electricity used in county facilities (through 2023)
• Natural gas and propane use, mostly to heat our buildings
• Steam use via the state-owned Capitol Heat & Power Plant (which provides us with steam)
• Gasoline, diesel and compressed natural gas fuel in fleets

To achieve our 2030 goal Dane County will further reduce remaining emissions so that the emissions are equal to or less than the total annual emissions sequestered via the County’s land operations. The graph below shows remaining emissions by source. 

Carbon Sequestration

Dane County Land & Water Resources are currently researching the total tons of carbon sequestered through land operations on an annual basis for Dane County. We will integrate that data into this page as it becomes available.

Total Emissions From Dane County Operations

Beyond the facilities/fleet/land operations goal Dane County also has greenhouse gas emissions associated with operating the Dane County landfill and with fugitive emissions. Those emissions are not included in the 2030 goal.   A full summary of Dane County's internal emissions for 2022 is available here.