The Sustainable States Network has a brand-new online presence to showcase its growing impact on sustainability and clean energy at the local and state levels, and across an increasing footprint in the US. The new website, SustainableStates.net, provides information about the network, specific state programs, and how large, medium, and small local governments are putting sustainability on the local policy agenda and taking action on thousands of clean energy goals.
The Sustainable States Network harnesses the power of local government to speed education and action on climate goals and clean energy. Managed by the Great Plains Institute, the network brings together state-level sustainability programs across 13 states, impacting more than 2,200 local governments and 65.6 million people. The network’s high-leverage actions focus on emissions reductions, infrastructure and land use decisions, water protection and management, technology deployment (electric vehicles, renewable energy, etc.), and economic development.
“This new website allows us to better tell the story of the power of collective action on sustainability, including climate and energy, across communities of all sizes,” said Lola Schoenrich, vice president of communities at the Great Plains Institute and the Sustainable States Network coordinator. “By collaborating to support local government action, we learn from each other, share resources, and accelerate clean energy and sustainability action at a pace that often isn’t possible at the state or federal levels.”
SustainableStates.net offers detailed information and success stories about each of the state-level programs and showcases collaborative projects across the network. One example is the Equity Project, which brings together six network members and works to put social and racial equity front and center in their work. Supported by national and local consultants, this project informs the work of all network members.
Additionally, the network hosts the Community Energy Challenge, which supports 30 local governments in five states to benchmark clean energy progress and identify areas of excellence and improvement. The challenge pairs the national expertise of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) with on-the-ground technical assistance from state-level programs.
To find out more about the Sustainable States Network, visit the website. Interested in partnering or working with the network? Contact Lola Schoenrich at the Great Plains Institute at [email protected].
