The Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program
History and development
During fall 2007, Minnesota's Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) held regional listening sessions around the state to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state's Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea was raised of creating a sustainable cities program, free to cities, that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were "green stars." This idea was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which directed the MPCA, the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and CERTS to recommend actions cities could take on a voluntary basis.
Those recommendations are contained in the report Minnesota GreenStep Cities. Representatives from dozens of cities, non-profit organizations, businesses and state government agencies provided the outline for what has been developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, which began in June 2010.
Resources: Background and promotion
A variety of resources has been created to help explain the program.
- GreenStep Notables: Activities by cities in GreenStep's first year
- Fact sheet
- PowerPoint presentation (Oct. 2011 - 3Mb)
- A short introductory video created by the Great Plains Institute
- Green Cities: Leading the Way is a 27-minute documentary highlighting sustainability measures being taken by four trailblazing Minnesota cities: Barnesville, Elk River, Minneapolis, and New Ulm.
- Related: Case studies of sustainable action by cities compiled by the League of Minnesota Cities and the state Auditor.
Partner organizations
Of the organizations that created the 2009 report to the Legislature, this group below meets bi-monthly as the GreenStep Cities working committee, contributing time and funding to implement GreenStep Cities program. Each spring the committee organizes a review of the GreenStep program, which includes recommendations from the public, participating cities, state agencies, topic experts, and the League of Minnesota Cities. The committee also works with the League, which recognizes GreenStep cities each June.
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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Philipp Muessig, GreenStep Cities Coordinator Philipp.muessig@state.mn.us 651/757-2594 |
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Great Plains Institute Lola Schoenrich, Senior Program Manager, Energy Efficiency lschoenrich@gpisd.net 612/278-7154 |
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Clean Energy Resource Teams Lissa Pawlisch, Statewide Coordinator Pawl0048@umn.edu 612/624-2293 |
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Urban Land Institute Minnesota Kristina Smitten, GreenStep Cities Project Manager ksmitten@smittengroup.com 651/246-9443 |
| League of Minnesota Cities Don Reeder, Public Relations Manager dreeder@lmc.org 651/215-4031 |
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Izaak Walton League - Minnesota Division Michelle Schroeder, Director at Large sustainableike@hotmail.com 612/388-5623 |
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Minnesota Dept. of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources Abby Finis Abby.Finis@state.mn.us 651/296-6205 |
Program funders
In addition to staff time contributed by the MPCA and the Division of Energy Resources to work on the GreenStep program, several funders support the staff time of personnel from the five non-profit GreenStep partner organizations. Others wishing to support the program may contact Lola Schoenrich of the Great Plains Institute. The GreenStep program greatly appreciates the support of the following organizations:
- Walmart Foundation
- McKnight Foundation
Award sponsors
Businesses and other organizations may become GreenStep Cities Awards Sponsors and receive visibility each June, when GreenStep Cities are recognized at the annual conference of the League of Minnesota Cities. Businesses and other organizations, especially those providing assistance to cities working on implementing best practices, are encouraged to contact the LMC working committee member for more details.
Sponsors of the 2012-2013 GreenStep Cities Awards:
- Ameresco - Green, Clean, Sustainable
- CR Planning - Community Resources
- Four Seasons Energy Efficient Roofing
- LHB - Architects & Engineers
- ORB Management Corporation
- The Weidt Group