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Sun Prairie Named a Green Tier Legacy Community by Wisconsin DNR

300 East Main Street
Sun Prairie, WI 53590-2227
Website: https://cityofsunprairie.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 3, 2025
Jake King
Communications and Diversity Strategist
jking@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 332-5397

Sun Prairie Named a Green Tier Legacy Community by Wisconsin DNR

The City of Sun Prairie is proud to be recognized as a Green Tier Legacy Community by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for advancing efforts in community waste reduction, promoting renewable energy, and taking the initial steps to develop a climate action plan.

The Green Tier Legacy Communities charter is part of the DNR’s voluntary Green Tier program, which empowers local governments to pursue a sustainable future. Membership provides communities access to funding opportunities, technical assistance, and a collaborative network for sharing progress and knowledge. The City has been recognized for several key actions that have advanced sustainability for the community.

One of the major initiatives to highlight is the expansion of recycling services, with the transition from biweekly to weekly recycling pickup, significantly reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills. Additionally, the City has promoted electric vehicle (EV) use by installing two Level 2 EV charging stations at City Hall, which are designed to support both public and municipal fleet vehicles. Lastly, the City invested in renewable energy by adding its largest solar array to date at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, a move that enhances renewable energy capacity and reduces its carbon footprint. Building on these efforts, the City will continue making strides toward key sustainability milestones, including the development of a comprehensive climate action plan.

The City is currently on track to achieve 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations by early 2025, up from 54% in 2022. Additionally, supported by a $76,000 Department of Energy grant, staff will be working with consultants to develop a comprehensive climate action plan aimed at achieving carbon neutrality over the next 25 years, with the plan expected to be finalized and adopted in late 2025. As

part of this effort, the City will establish its first emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement.

"I am incredibly proud of the progress that has been made in making Sun Prairie a greener community," said Dr. Rose Daily, Sustainability Coordinator. "I am excited to continue advancing these efforts and fulfilling our commitment to environmental stewardship, economic growth, public health, and social equity."

For more information on Sun Prairie’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://cityofsunprairie.com/1189/Sustainable-Sun-Prairie.

About City of Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.