Silver status for county environmental effort

Michigan Green Communities’ awards highlight sustainability

Michigan Green Communities has awarded silver-level honors to Oakland County for environmental leadership.

The consortium of Michigan municipalities and counties measures honors based on planning, climate resilience and adaptation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and protection, and mobility.

County Executive Dave Coulter said the award is an honor, and the county’s environmental sustainability plans are part of a pledge he made in 2019 to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the county government campus in Pontiac and Waterford by 2030 and in the county overall by 2050.”

The county’s first chief environmental sustainability officer, Erin Queteel, has tracked and measured greenhouse-gas emissions, developed a campus-wide sustainability plan, integrated solar energy in an upcoming renovation, and plans to install electric vehicle charging stations in two parking lot projects.

Annual gold, silver and bronze seals are used to encourage community leaders to improve energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice, among other categories. In 2021, 44 participants earned seals: 10 bronze, 12 silver, and 22 gold.

Michigan Green Communities is open to any community in the state seeking sustainability networking, benchmarking, and technical assistance. Resources help municipalities adapt to the changing climate, protect infrastructure, improve residents’ quality of life, while creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future statewide. Details at www.migreencommunities.com.