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In this Issue
It’s been quite a year since my appointment by Governor Walz in March to represent District 10 at the Met Council. This summer and fall, we opened up the METRO C Line BRT that runs from downtown Minneapolis to the Brooklyn Center Transit Center, and we broke ground on the new METRO Orange Line, a BRT line that will run from downtown Minneapolis to Burnsville along I-35W. In addition to these important projects, I’ve been diving into my role as chair of the Environment Committee.
We’re helping with innovative work around solar energy in the region by providing technical assistance to cities and counties who want to pursue this exciting resource. The state’s Land Planning Act requires that our region track solar resources for possible use and development. With new tools and data, we’re now able to help cities fulfill their solar requirements. In doing this work, we were helped by several nonprofits and the McKnight Foundation. With some careful planning, local communities can also be designated SolSmart Communities, meaning that they are open for solar business. The program has grown to twenty-five enrolled or designated communities, including six that have obtained the “Gold” designation by SolSmart – a national collaborative working to advance solar energy use.
Another big undertaking this year was when the City of Rogers conveyed their Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Met Council Environmental Services division, which treats the overwhelming majority of the wastewater in the seven-county metropolitan area. The long-serving Rogers plant will receive much needed maintenance and upgrades so it can serve until a replacement plant is built two miles west of the current plant. The new plant is expected to be built by 2030.
Clean water is one of the most important resources our region offers. By being responsible and striving for excellence, we can preserve and improve our water for generations to come. I had the opportunity to join some of our water quality staff when they checked a portion of the Mississippi River recently. Check out my attempt to learn a new skill! [photo]
Our region thrives when we do our best to plan for the future. At the Met Council, I’m excited that we’re working on ensuring that people have the clean water and energy they will need.
Thanks so much,
Peter
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Local governments and the Met Council have expanded the region's solar capacity by an estimated 50 megawatts since 2015. Solar energy is one tool in a wide array of options for governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliency to climate change. Learn about the SolSmart program and benefits to local governments.
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There's a certain amount of uncertainty that comes with trying something new – like using some of the country's first 60-foot electric buses. But facing the unknown and accepting that things may not always go as planned is necessary to evolve. Learn about Metro Transit's plans for electric bus purchases.
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In Rosalind Graham's world, every dollar counts. So when Metro Transit introduced a fare program that would allow her to ride for $1, she welcomed the opportunity to cut costs. Now she rides transit multiple times a week to get to and from work, applying the savings to housing and other expenses.
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Youth ages 15 to 19 will be the focus of, and key participants in, a Met Council study this fall. The goals of the study include gathering information to help create a more inclusive parks system for youth and families, and building youth capacity in research practices, civic engagement, and public speaking. Youth-serving organizations are invited to apply to collaborate on the project.
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Mike Webb, former mayor of Carver, owns a coffee shop. He learned, firsthand, the need for homes that are affordable for working people. He says he was skeptical, at first, when an affordable housing development was proposed in his city. But now, Carver Crossing Apartments makes him proud.
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