The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge, an annual sustainability benchmarking program, is open for 2024! Local governments can join the challenge and submit their sustainability progress now through May 1. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is a proud sponsor of the MGC program and MCG Challenge, which directly supports the MI Healthy Climate Plan and the Catalysts Communities Initiative.
The MGC Challenge has historically offered three levels of certification to communities: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This year, the MGC Challenge has added a new Platinum level certification to encourage communities to go above and beyond in their sustainability journeys. To earn Platinum level certification, a community must reach 175 points through completing action items, and achieve improvements or meet the local government’s stated goal in at least four of the following metrics:
- Percent (%) reduction in GHG emissions from municipal/county operations from baseline year.
- Percent (%) reduction in community wide GHG emissions from baseline year.
- Percent (%) of energy supplied by renewable sources in municipal/county operations as compared to previous calendar year.
- Percent (%) reduction in water use from municipal/county operations in the 2023 calendar year.
- Community-wide water use per capita (compared to previous year).
- Percent (%) of county/municipal vehicle fleet that are EV/clean fuel vehicles (improve upon from previous year or reach 100%).
- Tree canopy cover (meet your community's stated goal for tree canopy cover).
The MCG 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.
Participating in the MGC Challenge gives local governments free technical assistance opportunities, free registration to EGLE’s annual Michigan Sustainability Conference and the MI Healthy Climate Conference, networking opportunities with other local governments, and more. Local governments can get started by creating an account at Michigan Green Communities.
MGC will be hosting office hours from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST,
on February 15, March 21, and April 18, to answer questions and assist communities in completing the MGC Challenge.
Participants and interested communities can register for office hours.
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