The Commission shall take an advisory role in ensuring the on-going development of a sustainable and resilient future. To that end, the Commission shall, with the assistance of City staff made available by direction of the City Council have the following objectives: 1) Recommendation of targets to lower GHG emissions. 2) Recommendation on implementation of the Energy Action Plan. 3) Recommendation on implementation of the Sustainability and Resiliency Community Work Plan. 4) Measurement, verification and reporting of performance. a. GHG emissions reductions b. EAP strategy implementation metrics c. S&R Community Work Plan strategy implementation metrics 5) Uphold and apply the three pillars of sustainability (environment, economy, social equity) across objectives

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm. (subject to change)

Meeting agendas, minutes, and videos can be found here. 

The Commission shall consist of nine members. Members of the Commission shall represent various segments of our population, including diverse lived experiences, and backgrounds, to support the three pillars of sustainability - environment, economy, and social equity. Each member of the Commission will have sustainability program knowledge and be dedicated to representing that perspective/s. In addition, one commission member will be a youth representative, between the ages of 16-23. The Mayor shall appoint, with the Common Council’s advice and consent, all members of the Commission who shall serve without compensation.

1) Hold public hearings and meetings to seek input from community members on issues related to sustainability

2) Research and adopt position documents on issues affecting sustainability, resiliency, and overall GHG emissions reductions.

3) Recommend collaborative partnerships, with the approval of the Council and City of Rochester an anchor institution, both public and private, to create a sustainable and resilient future in Rochester. 

4) Recommend strategies to improve sustainability of public and private facilities

5) Recommend strategies for neighborhoods, homeowners, and residents to improve sustainability, resiliency, and lower GHG emissions

6) Coordinate with partners to improve sustainability and provide education, outreach, and resources to residents and businesses.

7) Provide feedback on relevant planning documents, such as updates to the Energy Action Plan or Sustainability and Resiliency Community Work Plan, to position Rochester as a sustainable, resilient community through environmental, economic, and social equity initiatives.

Membership is outlined in Ordinance 2-6-2. - City energy commission.

Visit the Boards & Commission Application portal to learn more about the application process and view a list of current vacancies across Boards & Commissions.

Kayla Betzold, Staff Representative
(507) 328-2212
kbetzold@rochestermn.gov 

Commission members are noted below. 

Rochester's energy targets, communitywide greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, and downtown transportation targets can be found here.

Rochester's Sustainability Plans:

• Energy Action Plan
• DMC: What will it take to meet Energy Action Plan Goals
• Sustainability & Resiliency Community Work Plan

Tracking Rochester’s performance through key indicators is essential to assessing progress and promoting efficiency. Actual data is collected for four primary indicators – energy, water, travel, and waste - which comprise over 90% of the total GHG emissions for the City of Rochester. GHG emissions and the retail costs to the consumer associated with each of these indicators is also collected, providing a common metric to compare the economic and environmental impacts of each. Visit the Regional Indicators Initiative Website for more information on the initiative and to explore the data.