Eagan Energy and Environment Commission Sets Goals for 2012

The Eagan Energy and Environment Advisory Commission (EEAC) recently kicked off its second year and established its goals for the next 12 months. 

In 2011, the commission led the effort to have Eagan declared a Minnesota GreenStep City and Eagan now is poised to be one of the first cities in the state to complete all the required best practices for Step III recognition. 

Dianne Miller, assistant city administrator and liaison to the commission, said Eagan is as far ahead as it is because the council has long made sustainability a goal for the city. 

Miller also said that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency GreenStep Coordinator, Phil Muessig, has "continually communicated to us that Eagan really is far ahead and we're proud of that. That we are nearing Step III so soon is a reflection of the council's goal."

Muessig confirmed that Eagan is likely to be one of the first cities to complete Step III requirements.

"My sense continues to be that the GreenStep framework is focusing the work and investigation of the Energy and Environment Commission, and that their work is pushing ahead action faster than might have the been case if Eagan had not joined the program," he said.

Besides completing the three remaining required best practices for Step III recognition - two of which were accomplished by a Sept. 6 city council adoption of resolutions -  the commission will work with the city council to identify additional best practices that make sense for Eagan to pursue.

Also at the September 6 City Council meeting, the EEAC 2011-2012 goals were approved:

Goal 1: Build upon the City's success by utilizing the GreenStep Cities programs as the overarching framework for the work of the EACC and officially obtain designation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as one of the first communities to be recognized as a Step III GreenStep City.

Goal 2: Use the GreenStep Cities methodology to create and communicate recommended action steps to Eagan's residential and business community via outreach and educational efforts.

Miller says the second goal will be achieved by "making a concerted effort to reach out to the community, businesses and residents alike, to communicate the efforts that the city has already taken in response to the council's energy and environment goal, but also to find ways to encourage the community to be more sustainable." 

Outreach activities include a establishing a web presence containing information about the city's sustainability efforts and resources for residents who want to become more green. This also will satisfy the last outstanding Step III requirement. 

Other possible outreach and education efforts include an incentive program for homeowners who make improvements that increase energy efficiency or use renewable resources and learning from Eagan businesses that have found ways to be more sustainable.