City of Ann Arbor Recognized for Environmental Leadership

The City of Ann Arbor is being recognized for environmental leadership by the statewide Michigan Green Communities program. As part of the 2021 Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge, 44 participating local governments were awarded gold, silver or bronze seals of achievement reflecting community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice, and more. Ten communities received bronze certification, 12 received silver certification, and 22 received gold certification.

The City of Ann Arbor achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including climate resilience and adaptation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, responsible materials management and clean mobility.

As one of the 22 Michigan communities to receive gold certification, the City of Ann Arbor celebrates many successes implementing the A2ZERO Climate Plan for a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality. From conducting energy audits and preparing to install solar and storage on municipal buildings to coordinating the installation of over 80 new public EV chargers, the city has been improving public facilities. Community programs like quadrupling solar installations through Solarize, expanding composting to a year-round service, providing thousands of free trees, and training over 50 community members to become neighborhood ambassadors make A2ZERO part of Ann Arbor.

The MGC program is open to all local governments in Michigan, at no cost. MGC is a sustainability networking, benchmarking and technical assistance program. It guides and supports communities in adapting to a changing climate, protecting infrastructure, improving the quality of life for residents, and creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for the state of Michigan.

MGC is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan Townships Association. More details about this program can be found at www.migreencommunities.com. Questions regarding the MGC program can be directed to [email protected].

Questions regarding Ann Arbor’s sustainability and environmental efforts can be directed to: Sustainability and Innovations Director Missy Stults, [email protected].