Rochester Recognized for Ongoing Sustainability Leadership

July 7, 2026 — ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA — The City of Rochester has once again been recognized as a Steps 4 and 5 city through the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, a statewide initiative that supports communities in advancing sustainability best practices, tracking performance and promoting innovation.

“This recognition reflects Rochester’s continued commitment to building a sustainable, resilient future while improving quality of life for residents,” said Kayla Betzold, Sustainability Coordinator and GreenStep program lead for the City of Rochester. “GreenStep provides an opportunity to measure our progress, learn from communities across Minnesota, and continue identifying meaningful ways to advance sustainability throughout City operations and the broader community.”

Rochester’s GreenStep efforts span a wide range of focus areas, including environmental stewardship, infrastructure and transportation improvements, conservation and waste reduction, expanded access to green spaces, and continued investment in housing and community development.

Adopted by the City Council in 2022, Rochester’s greenhouse gas reduction goals target a 50% reduction in communitywide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The City continues to make progress toward these goals through investments in energy efficiency, clean transportation, renewable energy and community sustainability initiatives.

Recent accomplishments reported through the GreenStep Cities program include:

• Reducing natural gas consumption in City buildings through energy efficiency improvements;
• Improving fuel efficiency and advancing electrification of the City fleet, including expanding the number of electric vehicles in operation;
• Expanding access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the community; and
• Increasing the City’s capacity for battery energy storage and renewable energy resilience.

“Earning Steps 4 and 5 recognition year after year demonstrates that sustainability is an ongoing commitment,” Betzold added. “By tracking our progress and continuing to invest in more efficient, resilient infrastructure and services, we’re working to create lasting benefits for Rochester residents and the community as a whole.”

The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program helps cities and Tribal nations implement best practices that reduce energy use, conserve natural resources, save money, and encourage innovation. Steps 4 and 5 recognize communities that measure and report sustainability performance metrics and demonstrate continued improvement.

More information about Rochester’s sustainability efforts can be found at RochesterMN.gov/Sustainability.