“Going green” sounds good, but what can cities and counties really do in tight budget times? With a new program called Minnesota GreenStep Cities, we can build thriving, healthy, and prosperous communities without breaking the bank!
Community members and local government officials met in Grand Rapids, MN July 29th to learn about how this free, voluntary program can be a tool for making citizens’ vision for the future a reality. Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and the Grand Rapids Wes Libbey Chapter of the Izaak Walton League co-hosted the event at Grand Rapids Area Library which was attended by local elected officials, community groups, and local citizens, including folks from Grand Rapids, LaPrairie, Bemidji, Virginia, Duluth, Rochester, and even Tennessee!
View photos from the event:
The event included the following presentations:
- Introduction – Art Norton, Grand Rapids Wes Libbey, Chapter of the Izaak Walton League
- GreenStep Cities Overview – Philipp Muessig, MN Pollution Control Agency (www.mngreenstep.org)
- Two Paths, One Choice – Bill Mittlefehldt, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
- Storm Water Update – Tom Pagel and Steve Anderson, City of Grand Rapids
- Conservation Improvement – Dan Chase, Grand Rapids Public Program Utilities Commission
- Power of One Conservation Program – Tim Gallagher, Minnesota Power
- Collaborating for the Future – Michelle Schroeder, Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Division
Northeast CERT Coordinator Bill Mittlefehldt cited several examples of folks already taking action in communities across the Northeast! Tom Pagel, Steve Anderson, Dan Chase, and Tim Gallagher gave examples of actions that Grand Rapids is taking, such as rain gardens that reduce and clean stormwater while adding beatuy.
Lakeland Public Television’s Jenny Day covered the GreenStep Cities seminars on the evening news:
Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance, and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of 28 best practices. Minnesota GreenStep Cities can help cities of all sizes. Minnesota GreenStep Cities allows you to get recognition for the work you’re already doing and offers free advice and tools for the areas where you need help! As Minnesota GreenStep Coordinator Philipp Muessig and Michelle Schroeder of the Izaak Walton League explained, “We’ve done the research to save you time and money!”
Minnesota GreenStep Cities offers 28 best practices, along 5 categories: Buildings and Lighting, Land Use, Transportation, Environmental Management, and Economic and Community Development. Best practices focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage innovation.
The new Minnesota GreenStep Cities website outlines each of the best practices and includes actions you can take now, plus at-a-glance costs and benefits and the phone number for a GreenStep Advisor who can help you.
Visit http://www.mngreenstep.org to learn how Minnesota GreenStep Cities can help your community thrive and prosper!
Watch a video to learn more about GreenStep Cities:
