The City of Grand Rapids is proud to announce its induction into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Leadership Club. This is a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded the EPA's minimum purchase requirements and is a part of the EPA's voluntary Green Power Partnership program.
"We are very proud to be recognized by the U.S. EPA for our support of renewable energy sources," said Interim City Manager Eric DeLong. "Investing in renewable energy sources is an important step in reducing our dependence on energy sources that negatively impact our environment.”
In 2005, the City formed a Renewable Energy Team that began meeting with various community partners, companies, and energy experts in search of the best way to fulfill the 20% renewable energy goal set by Mayor George Heartwell. As a result, a Renewable Energy Business Plan was developed that outlined the best short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies to meet this goal. In the short term, an agreement with Consumers Energy to participate in their Green Generation Renewable Energy Program was seen as the best strategy; and the City Commission approved a purchase that would meet our 20% goal in November, 2007. This purchase significantly reduces Grand Rapids’ carbon footprint by offsetting the greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide, sulpher dioxide and nitrogen oxide) produced using non-renewable sources and qualifies the City for this recognition by the EPA.
Mayor Heartwell has since set a new goal of reducing the City’s dependency on non-renewable resource power by 100% by December 31, 2020. For more information on the current work of the City’s Renewable Energy Team, please contact Haris Alibasic at halibasi@grcity.us.