Better government and smart stewardship of taxpayer dollars motivated former Lt. Governor Tina Flint Smith to renew the state’s commitment to sustainable operations. To help all 24 state agencies fulfill this commitment, she’s rolling out aggressive sustainability goals.
- Reduce fleet fossil fuel consumption by 30% by 2027.
- Reduce water consumption by 15% by 2025.
- Increase sustainable procurement by 25% of total spending on priority contracts by 2025.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2025. Great example: the Dept. of Human Services asks potential workers to join their committed staff who reduce greenhouse gas emissions through alternative commuting options.
- Reduce energy consumption in state buildings by 30% per square foot by 2027. Great examples: Met Council saved $6 million in annual energy costs through lighting retrofits, automation and process efficiencies. MnDOT converted 23,500 lights from high-pressure sodium to LED which use 65% less energy and saved $2.6 million in electricity costs in just one year.
- Reduce solid waste by 75% combined, recycling and composting rate of solid waste by 2030. Great example: Minnesota Dept. of Revenue installed water bottle filling stations that eliminated the need for 445,623 individual plastic water bottles.
The state Office of Enterprise Sustainability will be tracking the progress at the state and agency levels. “And we will be holding each other accountable and helping each other succeed,” Lt. Governor Smith said. “As an enterprise, we have set a common direction and together we are working toward a common purpose. Now we are poised to make significant progress toward improving our sustainability outcomes and hope to become a leader for others in the state and nation to follow.”
Each agency’s commissioner will be asking for staff support, participation, and ideas to improve our sustainability efforts.
For more information about the state’s plans and progress, visit https://mn.gov/admin/government/sustainability.