(June 23, 2023 – St. Paul, MN)

The City of Roseville was awarded a 2023 Sustainable City Award yesterday at the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in Duluth. The city was honored for its “Energy Action Plan and Partners in Energy Program”. 

Roseville participated in Xcel Energy and the Center for Energy and Environment’s Partners in Energy Program to increase its engagement with residents and businesses while working toward its greenhouse gas reduction goals in its 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Roseville involved city residents in developing and implementing an Energy Action Plan and developed innovative ways to increase awareness and participation in the city’s collective sustainability efforts. 

Throughout the implementation of the program, city staff attended seven local events, contacted more than 3,000 households with information about energy saving rebates and energy assistance, contacted more than 100 businesses and visited 60 businesses in person to promote free business energy audits, and distributed more than 500 flyers about energy assistance programs to local food shelves and food distribution efforts. 

In addition, Roseville staff from the engineering and community development departments worked with the Center for Energy and Environment to reimagine the city’s Green Award program, which provided cash prizes to three households annually for undertaking significant green home projects. The revamped program was renamed the Roseville Sustainable Steward Award and offers up to a $500 cash prize and ongoing recognition for sustainability efforts for both residents and businesses. 

The Sustainable City Award is presented annually to recognize sustainability efforts by a city among those participating in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program – a free, voluntary program designed to help cities meet environmental sustainability goals through implementing 29 best practices. The League partners with eight other organizations, including non-profits and state agencies, to administer the GreenStep Cities program. 

Roseville’s Energy Action Plan and Partners in Energy Program incorporates several GreenStep Cities best practices including Benchmarks and Community Engagement; Efficient Existing Private Buildings; Green Business Development; and Renewable Energy. 

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout Minnesota build quality communities through effective advocacy, expert analysis, trusted guidance, and collective action. The League serves its 838 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.