Cumming Group was selected to help develop the City of Ellensburg’s Sustainability and Energy Plan (SEP), in partnership with McKinstry, which would ensure the City’s compliance with the State of Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) and Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Services included developing an existing conditions assessment that assessed the City’s prior and ongoing actions with respect to sustainability, climate mitigation, and energy resources including a comprehensive municipal and community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories (Scope 1 and Scope 2).

Cumming Group designed and facilitated one-on-one and small group interviews with City staff, and co-developed a community-wide survey that informed the strategies in the SEP. The SEP is the result of these analytical and engagement phases, laying the roadmap for the City of Ellensburg to comply with state regulation. While the final plan does not establish formal commitments, it identifies several pathways for the City to set more tailored emissions reduction goals as an immediate next step. The final Sustainability and Energy Plan was adopted by Ellensburg City Council in January 2024.