Topic Teams provide topic specific resource people and recommendations for high impact actions for cities. Topic Teams also support groups of cities to implement high impact actions together through adopting model ordinances, projects and campaigns to advance

Clean Energy
Efficient Buildings

Green Jobs
Transportation
Resilience/Adaptation

Zero Waste

Clean Energy

www.rccmn.co/energy
City operations, local solar, community-wide access
Action 1. Procuring Renewable Energy for City Operations
Action 2. Solar Ready Building Construction City-owned buildings, businesses, multifamily
Action 3. Expanding Rooftop Solar within City Businesses, Institutions (schools), Residents
Action 4. Support Legislation to Continue Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards in 2021
Action 5. Cities commenting on Xcel’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

Energy Efficient Buildings www.rccmn.co/buildings
New building construction and existing building retrofits
Action 1. Adopt an Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
Action 2. Commercial & Multifamily Engagement Partners in Energy, PACE, Cost Share Grants
Action 3. Adopt a Sustainable Building Policy
Action 4. New Buildings – Educating Developers Xcel design assistance, PACE funding
Action 5. Supporting Legislation or Statewide Policy Improvements net-zero construction
Action 6. Truth in Sale of Housing Inspections Adding an energy audit and energy score
Action 7. Cities comments on Inclusive Financing docket with the PUC

Transportation/ Land Use

Action 1. Support sustained state, regional & county transit investments. Reprioritize spending
Action 2. Prioritize pedestrians, bikes, transit in the public right of ways complete streets
Action 3. Plan for equitable in-fill redevelopment Net Zero, Equitable, Walkable, TOD
Action 4. Support increased adoption of Electric Vehicles City Fleets, E.V. Charging Ordinance
Action 5. Shared Mobility Joint powers agreements to regulate shared mobility modes

Adaptation/ Resilience

Develop a community/wide climate vulnerability assessment and resilience action plan (#BP 29) coordinating with County All Hazard Mitigation Plan

Implement Green Infrastructure and improve soil health to infiltrate storm water on site (BP # 17)

Adopt urban tree canopy coverage & diversity goals that increase over time  

  • Collaborative EpA Grant for Workforce & Business Development

    THANKS attending our Feb 17 Collaborative Federal Grants Workshop! Please us for our follow up conversation This Friday March 8th 10am to 11am on Zoom to explore sending in a

    Collaborative EPA Community Change Grant for equitable workforce and small business development to cut CO2

    and/or fill out our short survey https://forms.gle/9yW1YyB2yGARU7tg7 to let us know your organization or department’s level of interest and how you can help & we’ll invite you to our next meeting with more notice.  

  • invest in Climate Solutions in the Mpls 2021 Budget

    Please send in your comments by 3pm Wed Dec 7, before the final public hearing that starts at 4pm Budget Comment Form

    Thanks for making a priority when passing the 2021 City of Minneapolis budget to continue equitable investments in energy efficiency, rebuilding, resilience and climate solutions! 

    On behalf of 30 neighborhood environment committees across Minneapolis active with our Mpls Green Teams coalition with Minneapolis Climate Action and Resilient Cities & Communities www.rccmn.co/minneapolis/

    Please make sure that full amount of annual revenue from the .5% Franchise fee increase approved to fund climate and energy action  is spent on equitable investments in energy efficiency and climate solutions.

    While it looks like the 2021 proposed budget for the Sustainability Office and Climate Investments is at about 1.4 million, please work to increase that number to closer to the 2.1 Million the City included in its 2020 budget for this work. While the city is facing a revenue shortfall for 2021 investments in energy efficient and resilient reconstruction must be a priority because of the long term benefits of building back better.

    We are excited that the Mayor Frey and Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins have announced the Minneapolis Forward: Rebuild Resilient program on Nov 17 which includes $1.17 million in small business energy efficiency grants aimed at small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and those affected by this year’s civil unrest.

    Please prioritize maintaining energy efficiency and solar incentive investments for home owners and businesses city wide that are funded by the .5% franchise fee increase. Resident and business demand for city supported energy efficiency programs is increasing rapidly city-wide through the Energy Benchmarking program and the Truth in Sale of Housing ordinance that requires energy audits when you are selling your home.

    Let’s get the city on track to meet the new climate targets of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050 while reducing energy burdens for residents and businesses and expanding good paying jobs in energy efficiency and solar.  

    Sean Gosiewski, Program Director 612 250-0389  sean AT rccmn.co Resilient Cities & Communities 

  • Comment on Xcel’s IRP

    Individuals and cities are invited to send in their comments on line by January 15, 2021 on Xcel Energy’s Draft 15 year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

    FRESH ENERGY UPDATE instructions on how to send in your comments

    Energy We Can’t Afford Campaign (to prevent increasing the use of fracked gas in MN.