Robbinsdale Becoming More Environmentally Conscious
The city of Robbinsdale is making strides in its quest to becoming more environmentally conscious.
One year ago, Robbinsdale joined a dozen other Minnesota cities in declaring a climate emergency.
“The climate is changing, it’s causing some pretty significant consequences and us as public servants can do something to address that,” stated Kayla Kirtz, Assistant to City Manager, Robbinsdale.
The Robbinsdale City Council passed a resolution to join GreenStep, an arm of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
That set in motion the start of a five-step action plan aimed at helping the city achieve its sustainability and quality-of-life goals.
“This year we’re really focusing on working toward that third step, getting some more recognition and being able to brag about some more sustainable actions we’ve implemented,” said Kirtz.
In September 2022, MN GreenCorps member Abby Drehmel began an 11-month service contract with the city. Drehmel’s work focuses on waste prevention and increasing recycling and organics recycling.
Robbinsdale Joins Xcel’s Partners in Energy
Robbinsdale is also a part of Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy; a program that assists local governments and school districts in energy use planning.
“We’re working with Xcel, and we have recruited a group of Robbinsdale community members, business owners and public officials to participate in the community energy planning process,” Kirtz said.
The hope is that through community engagement, there will be identifiable goals and priorities the city can pass on to Partners in Energy, who use the information to formulate an action plan.
Energy, contends Kirtz, is the driving force behind everything we do.
“It’s all fueled by a certain source of energy whether that be gas, coal, wind, solar, it really plays a role in everything that you do.”
For energy saving tips, you can visit the city of Robbinsdale’s website.
