Muskegon, Michigan — The City of Muskegon was recognized for its environmental leadership by the statewide Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program. As part of the annual Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge, local governments are awarded bronze, silver, gold or platinum seals of achievement. These achievements reflect community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice and more.

The City of Muskegon achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including planning, economic development, land use, climate resilience, climate adaptation, renewable energy, and water conservation and protection.

Within the past year years, the City has made progress in the following areas, including but not limited to: completing an organizational-wide energy audit and creating an internal Climate Action Workgroup; converting all city streetlights, City Hall and Trinity Health Arena to LED fixtures; upgrading HVAC systems and installing solar panels at the Trinity Health Arena; and replacing the boiler system at City Hall.

The MGC Challenge had a record number of participants this year, with 63 communities being recognized for their efforts. The City of Muskegon and the other participants logged actions taken through 2023 to improve sustainability efforts. 7 communities received bronze certification, 20 received silver certification and 36 received gold certification.

The MGC 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.

Michigan Green Communities is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; the Michigan Department of Transportation; the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan Townships Association. More details about this program can be found on their website: www.migreencommunities.com.

Questions regarding the Michigan Green Communities program can be directed to Danielle Beard, Michigan Green Communities Program Coordinator at [email protected]. Questions regarding the City of Muskegon’s sustainability and environmental efforts can be directed to Peter Wills at (231)-724-4144 or at [email protected].