Resiliency and Lighthouse Point
On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the residents and City Commission had the opportunity to discuss climate trends, resilience planning, advancements in resiliency, and the county-wide resilience plan with Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director of the Resilient Environment Department of Broward County. If you missed Dr. Jurado's presentation and the discussion after, please click on the picture below:
The City of Lighthouse Point is committed to minimizing adverse effects on the environment by increasing positive impacts through programs and efficient day-to-day operations. These initiatives include implementing energy-saving practices and encouraging the use of renewable resources.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time. For business and policy-making decisions, sustainability seeks to prevent the depletion of natural or physical resources, so that they will remain available for future generations.
SEA LEVEL RISE
The City of Lighthouse Point is taking steps to adapt and become more resilient to climate change and sea level rise.
As climate change continues to evolve in South Florida, we could see an increase in coastal flooding due to sea level rise, intensified storms, heavier rainfall, and more frequent extreme heat.
The City of Lighthouse Point is committed to designing and building new infrastructure and capital projects to be able to withstand the impacts of sea level rise.
To begin adapting our existing infrastructure to future sea level rise scenarios, the City recently received grant funding in the amount of $250,000 through the Resilient Florida Program for a vulnerability assessment (VA) and adaptation plan.
The Resilient FL Program, managed by the FL Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), enhances efforts to protect inland waterways, coastlines and shores, which serve as natural defenses against sea level rise. The program includes a selection of grants which will help prepare communities for the impacts of sea level rise, intensified storms, and flooding.
Beginning in 2024, a vulnerability assessment must be completed and accepted by the state before communities can submit projects to receive grant funding in the form of 50/50 matching grants.
Once the VA and adaptation plan have been completed, the City will have the opportunity to apply for funding of water quality improvement projects and coastal and inland resilience projects. If we receive this funding, it will take approximately 12-18 months to complete the VA.
COUNTYWIDE RESILIENCE PLAN
Broward County recently launched their Resilient Broward website supporting the published County-wide Resilience Plan shared in early 2025.
This site includes full and condensed versions of the published plan while also providing an alternative web-based platform sharing the plan approach, elements, strategies, and recommendations.
Also included is the Scenario Viewer, which allows the user to explore future conditions flooding and adaptation outcomes countywide and by location.
Additional features will be added, including a project tracker, to help monitor, track, and account for infrastructure improvements supporting plan implementation.
While a useful tool for general communications and outreach, the viewer, and ancillary tools (such as the future conditions water storage map) are intended to ensure coordinated planning and investments across our communities and by all agencies.
COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS
The City of Lighthouse Point recently transitioned to automated trash collection with Waste Management (WM).
WM is investing heavily in natural gas technologies to fuel their fleet. They have dedicated countless hours and large amounts of capital into harnessing gas that naturally comes from the decomposition of trash in our landfills and turning it into pipeline-quality natural gas.
Through WMs gas-to-energy landfills and solar initiatives, they have been able to maximize the capture of energy from landfills to create renewable fuels to power their trucks.
WM currently has four facilities that produce this renewable natural gas (RNG) and they are working diligently to open more.
Learn more about Sustainable Technology
PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (PACE)
The Broward County Board of Commissioners approved a countywide Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program, providing an innovative form of financing for clean energy and resilience improvements for residential and commercial property owners across the county.
The PACE program is a financing option or loan, not a rebate or grant, offered by the external parties to both homeowners and business owners in Broward County.
Property owners voluntarily agree to program terms for financing, and repay through a non-ad valorem special assessment or lien added to their annual property tax bill. There is no government assistance or relief available for your inability to pay the increased tax bill.
Your ability to secure a PACE loan is based on the equity in your home/property. What is the home worth now, and how much do you owe on a mortgage. The difference between the two is considered your home/property equity.
For questions regarding specific qualifying improvements, financing terms, and a list of contractors, visit the Broward County Sustainability Page for the most up-to-date information.