Climate Plan in Action: Public Works Adds Two EV Trucks to City Fleet
Our Public Works has added two EV trucks to the City Fleet. This addition is part of the City's Climate Plan Initiatives around Transportation and Energy as we re-envision City-wide energy practices and reduce emissions. One initiative is to Increase Electric Vehicle Ownership Across Saint Anthony Village. The City's new Ford Lightning F150s should average the equivalent of 76 mpg in the city and emit up to 40% less CO2 than similarly sized gas-powered trucks.
ABOUT THE CLIMATE PLAN: The City of St. Anthony Village (SAV) is building on the history of sustainability leadership through the Climate Plan enacted in 2023. According to the goals established in the SAV 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the City aims to reduce city-wide CO2 emissions by 80% and city facility CO2 emissions by 100% over a 2005 baseline by 2040. This plan identifies the next steps in achieving these goals and includes four focus areas: Water, Waste, Energy, and Transportation with Initiatives for each focus area.
New Sustainability Coordinator Joins St. Anthony Village Staff
Welcome to Minette Saulog who joins us in mid-May. She holds a B.S. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a major in Sustainable Systems Management and double minors in Environmental Science & Business Management. Minette started her career as a Minnesota GreenCorps member at St. Anthony Village in 2018, where she worked on energy conservation, resident education and engagement, and supported the first year of Ramsey County’s 24/7 food scraps drop-off at City Hall. She joined Ramsey County Environmental Health in the fall of 2019, and has held a fellowship position, an Environmental Health Specialist position, and was most recently a Health Educator. Her broad environmental and sustainability experience includes the areas of project management, climate resiliency, community outreach, data analytics and annual solid waste reporting to the MPCA, and recycling grant program management for K-12 schools and businesses. She is excited to come back to the St. Anthony staff and community, reconnecting with familiar faces and continuing to support the city’s sustainability work!
GreenStep Cities Program
The City of Saint Anthony has once again achieved Step 4 & 5 recognition in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. St. Anthony is proud to be a GreenStep City Level 5, which is a voluntary program through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The Benefits to being a GreenStep City are active and resilient community, efficient use of resources, and healthier environments. Residents can be involved in a variety of ways to help Saint Anthony further its sustainable mission. The GreenStep website contains many initiatives to assist in advancing our GreenStep level. To see what Saint Anthony has done and is doing under the GreenSteps program, see the List of Best Practice Actions
Tree Planting in the Village; partnering with Hennepin County
Our amazing Public Works Crew have taken off their winter gear and are outside creating beautiful spaces in St. Anthony Village. This week, in conjunction with Arbor Day, the crew has been planting trees in partnership with the Hennepin County Healthy Tree Canopy Grant. This matching grant covers 75% of the cost. The City hired a contractor to remove 20 trees and grind the stumps as part of this project. Our Crew is planting 25 trees in the general area of the ones that were removed. The tree species chosen (Ironwood, Autumn Splendor Buckeye, Redbud, Hackberry and St Croix Elm) meet the best practices for bio-diversity provided by the MN DNR and Hennepin County Forestry to promote tree health.
St. Anthony Village has maintained its Tree City USA designation since 2016 through the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of our commitment to effective urban forest management.
Thank you to Hennepin County for joining us in this effort.
More Info about the grant