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Sustainability
Welcome!
The goal of the city’s sustainability initiatives is to “meet community needs and aspirations and best optimize the unique nature of the community without compromising the well-being of future generations.”
The climate crisis poses an immense threat to our present and future. We cannot and will not wait to combat it. In this fight, sustainability across all sectors of our city is of the utmost importance. As stated in Middleton’s Comprehensive plan, “Middleton will respond to disruptive changes in our climate, ecological, and social systems in ways that connect us to an emerging future rather than by reacting against the patterns of the past – which can mean perpetuating systems that are not sustainable (structural racism, ecological destruction, and profit-oriented decision-making that does not protect people’s and the environment’s well-being).” We must understand and act upon the intersectionality of sustainability by promoting healthy community, protecting our natural environment, improving accessibility, addressing systemic and practiced inequities, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in pursuit of lasting environmental, social, and economic justice.
The Middleton Sustainability Committee meets once a month (typically on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 pm) and is charged with making policy recommendations to the Middleton Common Council pertaining to environmental sustainability. The committee also organizes community events, such as the Clean & Green Middleton recycling event and the LED lightbulb exchange event. Please feel free to peruse the links on this page and don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.
Kelly Hilyard, MLA
khilyard@cityofmiddleton.us
Sustainability Coordinator
Staff liaison to the Sustainability Committee
Awards and Achievements
- Renewable Energy Pioneer of the Year (2019) - RENEW Wisconsin for the Middleton Municipal Airport solar project
- Recognition as a Bird City - Bird City Wisconsin
- Dane County Climate Champion (2020)
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Dane County Climate Champion (2021)
"With the partnership between the City of Middleton’s Sustainability Committee, the Middleton High School Green Team, and St. Bernard’s Creation Care Team, this project reached hundreds of families across Middleton, giving each one a chance to be part of the solution of the climate challenge. We’re proud to recognize this partnership as Climate Champion Catalysts!" - Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change - Climate Champion Catalyst Article Link
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Bicycle Friendly Community - Wisconsin Bike Fed
- LEED for Cities 2020 Grant Award - As outlined in a city press release (PDF), Middleton is using the grant to work towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities certification. This process aids in understanding how Middleton succeeds in sustainable practices and how improvements can be made to increase the city's sustainability.
- 2022 Energy Innovation Grant Award for Beneficial Electrification and Solar + Battery Storage in Affordable Housing
- 2020 Energy Innovation Grant Program Award for Battery Storage at the Police Department
- 2018 Energy Innovation Grant Award for Energy Planning - Office of Energy Innovation and Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Tree City USA Participant
Dane County Climate Champion (2021)
"With the partnership between the City of Middleton’s Sustainability Committee, the Middleton High School Green Team, and St. Bernard’s Creation Care Team, this project reached hundreds of families across Middleton, giving each one a chance to be part of the solution of the climate challenge. We’re proud to recognize this partnership as Climate Champion Catalysts!" - Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change - Climate Champion Catalyst Article Link
Bicycle Friendly Community - Wisconsin Bike Fed
- "Local governments take up effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, Middleton preparing to go all-renewable by 2050" - Wisconsin State Journal
- "Let the sun shine" - Isthmus
- "Middleton UNANIMOUSLY Calls for 100% Clean Energy" - Sierra Club (Wisconsin Chapter)
- "City Council Takes Steps Towards LEED Certification" (PDF) - Middleton Times-Tribune
- "Free LED Lightbulbs Available at Two Events" (PDF) - Middleton Times-Tribune
- "LED Lightbulb Exchange Success Story" - Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change
Plans and Resolutions
The Middleton Sustainability Committee is excited to share the draft "Sustainable City Plan" for review and comment by the public. This is the first update of the plan since it was originally published in 2010.
The new plan focuses on actions that the Sustainability Committee and city staff can take over the next three years to move Middleton closer to achieving the goals of Resolution 2018-32, “Resolution to Address Global Warming through Clean Energy.” Most of the actions in the draft plan are from the Green City chapter of the 2021 Comprehensive Plan.
- Middleton Sustainable City Plan.PDF
- City of Middleton's 2021 Comprehensive Plan (PDF) - Check out the "Green City" section (page 93) for detailed info about Middleton's sustainability vision
- Slipstream Municipal Energy Plan (PDF) - Middleton collaborated with Slipstream and six other communities in Dane County to develop energy plans for the overall region and this plan specific to Middleton (PDF). The plan is essential in targeting Middleton's greatest energy use and taking steps towards energy efficiency. The appendices (PDF) are also useful for understanding the plan.
- Resolution to Support 25% of Electricity and 25% of Transportation Fuels from Renewable Resources by 2025 (PDF)
- Resolution to Support 100% Community Wide Renewable Energy by 2050 (PDF)
Email Updates
To receive sustainability email updates, please sign up for Notify Me.
Sustainability Pictured Around Middleton
