warmer
neighborhood venue!
MAGI
December 2006

Where in the world is Mahtomedi?
15 miles NE of St. Paul
east shore of
White Bear Lake
population 8,000
5 square miles

Mahtomedi
1880-1930
Courtesy of White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

Mahtomedi Historic District
summer cottages
turn of the century
most now year-round homes

newer
neighborhoods

SENSE OF PLACE
geography - lake
history
school district loyalty
churches
city government -
accessible, leadership
CONNECTION TO WORLD

Trajectory of
CO2 & other
GHGs

Participation in the Kyoto Protocol
Signed and ratified
Signed, ratification pending
Signed, ratification declined
Non-signatory

Solutions Needed:
International (Kyoto)
National (?)
State…
Cities -- Local (in)action
Citizens need to DO something!

CITIZENS = COMMUNITY RESOURCES/ASSETS
MAGI COMMITTEE
Mn PCA
U of M Regents Professor
Grocery Store Manager/School Board Member
Mayor of Mahtomedi
School District Buildings and Grounds Director
Science Educator
Health Club Manager/Sustainable Bldg Expert
Mn Dept of Commerce, State Energy Office
Science Writer
Century College Dean of Academic Affairs
3M Operations Manager
Reps from church green
sanctuary/stewardship committees
Challenge = VOLUNTEERS = have full-time jobs!

• measurably reduce our use of nonrenewable,
carbon-emitting energy sources
• pursue and acquire renewable energy sources,
including wind and solar
• encourage an enduring community commitment
to sustainability

Role in community:
Initiate action, collaborate, network, support, share successes
CELEBRATE!
already lots happening in lil’ ole Mahtomedi…

Will Steger
speaks to crowd of 900
at St. Andrews Lutheran Church
in Mahtomedi
An Inconvenient Truth
released in DVD
shown in area churches
tipping point?…
Photo courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus College

SEE - Schools for Energy Efficiency
--$325,000 in cost savings in four years
--6 million pounds greenhouse gases not released
EPA Energy Star Leader Award

Mahtomedi Mayor Signs
U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
in October 2006

reduce Mahtomedi s
GHG emissions by 7%
compared to 1990 levels
by 2012
But how?

Seattle, Mahtomedi
pop. 595,000 pop. 8,000
total city staff
total city staff = 14
staff for climate
initiative

City of Mahtomedi
Environmental Commission
Citizen input and support for City initiatives.

measurably reduce our use of
nonrenewable, carbon-emitting
energy sources

TREAD LIGHTLY MAHTOMEDI
MPCA Technical Assistance Grant
municipal carbon footprint
Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
Environmental Commission - join ICLEI
MAGI volunteers - write grant
Mahtomedi - administrates
Century College - coordinates intern
White Bear Lake - collaborates

TREAD LIGHTLY MAHTOMEDI
• Quantify municipal GHG footprint -- baseline
• Set target for GHG reduction
• Develop plan for specific actions city can take to
reach target
• Implement actions and calculate anticipated GHG
savings
• Monitor results -- feedback
Communicate with citizens throughout

NEW! Mahtomedi Public Works Building
Silver LEED Certification criteria

City of Mahtomedi
•Natural Step Workshop
•Partner with White Bear Lake
& Century College
•Green Talk
•Mayor’s column
•Webpage on environment
•Green Model Home/Living
Green
•Water Ordinance

NEXT STEP - Community
Community GHG baseline…
…while increasing efficiencies
and reducing use.
Partner with Energy Neighborhoods project…
Cooperative --buying bulk efficiency materials
Energy --mapping
--eco-nudges/incentives/competitions
Futures?

pursue and acquire
renewable energy sources,
including wind and solar

Goals of Zephyr Wind
• Clean wind
energy
• Educational
opportunities
for Mahtomedi &
Century College
students
• Demonstrate
community’s commitment
to renewable energy -- many collaborators

encourage an enduring community
commitment to sustainability

Focus Mahtomedi: Energy
featuring polar explorer
Will Steger
Solving the Climate Change Crisis
October 1, 2008

Mahtomedi
Community Garden
Mahtomedi Community Education
City of Mahtomedi
Mahtomedi Area Green Initiative

Edible Gardens!
YUM!

RITE* of Spring!
*Really Into The Earth
Community Education
Community Collaboration
Community FUN!!!
650 people attended
18 tons e-waste recycled
100 letters to legislators written
60 rain barrels sold
100 bottles non-toxic cleaner made
workshops/exhibits/activities

saves energy saves money
--buys from local farms
Minnesota Chamber of
--sells/encourages
reusable tote bags Commerce:
--recycles plastic, light
--Minnesota Waste Wise
bulbs, aluminum,
cardboard, paper --Minnesota Energy Smart
--collects food waste for
pig farm

White Bear UU Church
in Mahtomedi
Solar Photovoltaic System
Permeable Pavement Parking
Native Plantings
Global Climate Speakers Series

American College & University
Presidents Climate Commitment
Green Job/Continuing Ed Courses
National Teach-In/National Speakers
MAGI/MPCA Grant Collaborator

ENERGY SYNERGY
City of Mahtomedi Citizens Groups
Community Education
Businesses Churches
Retirement Community
Mahtomedi Schools Environmental Groups
Century College
City of White Bear Lake
Citizens

Are we there yet?

I am only one
But still I am one
I cannot do everything
But still I can do something
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
--Edward Everett Hale