Sustainability

Mindy Granley - Sustainability Officer

As Sustainability Officer at the City of Duluth, Mindy Granley is responsible for improvement of City policies, programs, and initiatives in support of local environmental, economic, and social systems. She works to incorporate sustainability into decision making, measure and communicate progress, and build partnerships for change. Previously, Mindy served for 12 years as Sustainability Director at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), where she advanced operational improvements and integrated sustainability into the learning experience for all students. She championed campus projects and promoted energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions, all while connecting students to learning opportunities in the community. Before working at UMD, Mindy spent 6 years working on watershed management in the Lake Superior watershed at local, regional, and state levels.

she/her/hers
218-730-5334
mgranley@duluthmn.gov

City Sustainability Advisory Team (C-SAT)

Various City department members and leaders – including Planning and Economic Development, to Public Works and Utilities, Finance, Workforce Development, and more – meet quarterly to discuss City-wide sustainability efforts, ensure alignment of actions, and identify synergy between goals as related to the Climate Action Work Plan. The Team first met to participate in the creation of the Work Plan, and membership continues to evolve. Yearly membership details may be found in Climate Action Work Plan progress reports.

Alex Jackson – Energy Coordinator

Alex Jackson is the Energy Coordinator for the City of Duluth. As a member of the Property and Facilities Management team, Alex develops and leads energy efficiency projects and documents project savings to be reinvested in the City’s energy fund. He also monitors energy and utility consumption within 148 buildings and numerous other park assets and public areas. Prior to working for the City of Duluth, Alex spent five years as the Air Program Coordinator for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. There he was responsible for tracking the Band’s air emissions and assisting in the operation of their air quality monitoring station.

Brett Crecelius – Community Resilience Project Coordinator

As the Community Resilience Project Coordinator, Brett is leading the implementation of the City of Duluth’s RACER (Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience) award from the Department of Energy to plot out the City’s solar investment future. The project will allow the City to evaluate solar sites to create a comprehensive technical framework for solar development, as well as gather community feedback to better understand residential solar needs. When completed, Bret’s work will guide City solar deployment strategies in the future and inform resilient energy improvements for other cold climate communities. Brett joins us from his previous position as an Economic Developer within the City’s Housing team. Prior to joining the City, he worked in the construction industry for close to a decade, where he gained invaluable experience in land management, infill site and green space work, and project management.

Service Members

Ella Stewart -Ecolibrium3 Energy and Sustainability VISTA

Ella Stewart is serving as the Ecolibrium3 Energy and Sustainability VISTA at the City of Duluth from August 2023-2024. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with degrees in Environment, Sustainability and Geography, Political Science, and International Studies. As a VISTA, Ella will be focused on relieving energy burden and planning for equitable climate solutions for our City that build capacity and reduce poverty. Her work will include implementing actions in the Duluth Climate Action Plan and Imagine Duluth 2035 Comprehensive Plan through community outreach and events, grant applications, accounting for greenhouse gas emissions, data analysis, and more. In her free time, Ella enjoys kayaking, hiking, reading, and live music. She spends most of her free time exploring the North Shore and is excited to spend a full year in Duluth. Ella looks forward to meeting the talented individuals working for and with the City along with making a positive and substantial impact in the community.

Interns

Olivia Goulet – University of Minnesota Duluth Intern

Olivia Goulet is in her senior year at the University of Minnesota Duluth studying Environment Sustainability and Geography, and Natural History. She spent this past summer as a Parks Planning Intern for the City where she was able to expand her experience using GIS to map the Duluth trail systems, plan and assist the Parks and Recreation special events, and work on the city’s forestry crew practicing sustainable urban forestry. She is looking forward to diversifying her skills in this new role and learning more about sustainable resilience in urban environments. Olivia will be assisting the team in communications and outreach through writing articles, conducting interviews, and creating content. Apart from sustainability, her interests include reading, canoe camping, music, and jumping in Lake Superior. When she's not in class, you can find her catching live music, hitting thrift stores, or just hanging out by the water. She is excited for the opportunity to build new connections and help make a positive contribution to the city and the community.

Past City of Duluth Sustainability AmeriCorps VISTAs, Green Corps members and Interns

• Annika Frazer
• Cassidy Laib
• Faith Breeden
• Sydney Schulz
• Kaleb Montgomery
• Lily Strehlow
• Hannah Zahn-Helss
• Julia Forberg
• George Masson
• Nils Hoselmann
• Caroline Wortham
• Parker Angelos
• Lydia Peterson