City of Grand Rapids, MI
United States Mayor: Rosalynn Bliss-
Population 193792
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Area 117.25km 2
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GDP N/AN/A
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Targets by N/A N/Aemission
he Kent County Energy-from-Waste (EfW) Facility, operating as Covanta Kent, Inc., began commercial operation in January 1990. The facility processes 625 tons-per-day of municipal solid waste, generating up to 18 megawatts of electricity and up to 116,000 pounds of steam per hour for export. Under Covanta Energy's operating contract, the company is responsible for maintaining the Energy-from-Waste facility, fossil fuel steam plant and the underground steam network. Waste is delivered to the facility from Grand Rapids and five surrounding cities.
Read More Read Less- Waste
The BetterBuildings for Michigan initiative provides basic services, incentives and upgrades that improve home energy performance, lower utility bills and make living spaces more comfortable.
Read More Read Less- Buildings
Target 1: Meet the obligations of the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement for greenhouse gas emissions reductions by June 30, 2013.
1.1: Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns
1.2: Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and
1.3: Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system
The system, located on the Grand Rapids Water System Administration building, 1900 Oak
Industrial Drive N.E., became operational on May 21, 2012
The completed system includes a total of 429 panels: 13 strings of 11 panels with 3 arrays
each
Each panel is able to provide up to 285 watts creating a maximum output of 122625 watts
direct current (DC) power per hour producing 136,089 kWh of power
Charging stations are now available at the 5 following locations:
Within City-owned parking structures
1) Government Center Ramp (300 Monroe Ave NW) - Ottawa Level
2) Ottawa Fulton Ramp (50 Ottawa Ave NW) - Level A
3) Gallery on Fulton Ramp (10 Commerce Ave SW) - Near entrance
4) Weston Commerce Ramp (16 Weston St SW) - Level B
On-street parking
1) City Hall (300 Monroe Ave NW) - Ottawa Street parking spaces
- Transport
Movement toward energy independence is essential for long-term national security, integrity of the environment, and climate protection. Aggressive efforts are needed to substantially reduce overall non-renewable energy usage and rising energy costs. Renewable energy sources (solar electric, wind, geothermal, biomass, and small and low-impact hydro) can be used to produce electricity with fewer environmental impacts.
Read More Read LessProgress report issued each year to track progress on sustainability and climate goals adopted in 2011.
Read More Read Less- Residential
- Commercial
- Industrial
- Transport
- Agriculture, Forest and Other Land Use (AFOLU)
- Waste
City Hall Actions:
1. replace 40 year old windows with energy efficient versions
2. light motion sensors
3. energy efficient lighting
4 implementing smart climate control system
- Buildings
Grand Rapids collected a monthly average of 486 tons of recyclables from 2006 through July 2010, according to the data. The city in August 2010, in partnership with Kent County, implemented a single-stream recycling program that allows residents to dump all recyclables into the same cart. Since then, average monthly collections have risen to 754 tons.
Read More Read Less- Waste
Work on the Bikeway Expansion Program resulted in 23 miles of new bikeways being added to the network during
Fiscal Year 2013. At the end of Fiscal Year 2013 there were a total of 30.5 miles of on
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street bike facilities.
City Commission approved the
Bikeway Network Master Map
on May 28, 2013. The map was a product of a 4
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month
planning effort by Planning Department and Traffic Safety Department staff to develop a comprehensive bicycle facili-
ties network as part of the multimodal transportation system in Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Metropolitan area.
Staff took a leadership role in establishing connections between neighboring jurisdictions and in developing standards
for bicycle facilities.
- Transport
Natural Systems focuses on the protection of
environmental resources, including the urban forest canopy and water quality, with an emphasis on larger-scale stormwater management strategies.Green Grand Rapids provides an Ecological
Framework for prioritizing efforts to protect
valued natural resource areas and proposes
guidelines for restoring river banks and riparian
corridors. An urban tree canopy analysis is
provided (to support the concurrent work of the
City-appointed Urban Forest Committee) and
priorities for ordinance and policy re-evaluation
are suggested to help guide tree planting and
protection efforts. Greening focuses on improving the visual appeal of city streets and better managing stormwater on streets, in parks and on private development parcels. Green Grand Rapids identifies priorities
for greening the street network, illustrates
alternatives for adding permeable, landscaped
areas along street rights-of-way and suggests
other “green streets” strategies. The use of LID
strategies in all public and private development is also explored. A series of four park concept plans
illustrate a range of greening strategies from
native landscapes to underground stormwater
detention tanks that settle out pollutants before release to the storm sewer. Connections focuses on on-street pedestrian and
bicycle improvements, off-street trails and transit. Green Grand Rapids explores how alternatives to travel by car can be improved by adopting a “Complete Streets” approach that re-balances the
use of street rights-of-way to provide sidewalks, on-street bicycle facilities and expanded areas
for street trees and landscaping. Off-street trails, especially those along the Grand River (linking to the regional trail system), are also addressed. A special study provides preliminary engineering
recommendations and costs for the extension of
the existing riverwalk from Fulton Street to the
Wealthy Street Bridge.The Grand River focuses on riverfront mixed use and open space development, the expansion of river-related recreation opportunities and improving the ecological health of the river
system. Green Grand Rapids provides a concept study evaluating the future mixed-use redevelopment of the City-owned 201 Market Street riverfront site, including
recommendations for key public access and
open space links. Preliminary guidelines for the improvement and extension of the riverwalk are suggested, including riverbank restoration. A framework for recreational use zones
along the Grand River is suggested and options
and costs for the creation of a whitewater course
on the river’s Downtown reach are explored.
Parks and Recreation focuses on the protection
and improvement of existing parks, meeting
park acreage deficits and sustainable funding
strategies. Green Grand Rapids builds on the
work of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission
on Parks and Recreation (2007) to recommend
funding and partnership strategies. In addition,
a series of park concept plans (for Joe Taylor
Park, Pleasant Park, Ball-Perkins Park and park development at the City-owned Butterworth
Landfill superfund site) move the City a major
step closer to submitting grant applications for
park improvements. Green Grand Rapids also
provides an analysis of park accessibility as a
planning tool in determining which areas of the city have insufficient park land and where acquisition of park-school sites (which may be declared surplus by the Grand Rapids Public School District) or other parcels can help
accomplish the more equitable distribution of
park land.
The Mayors’ Grand River Clean Up began nine years ago as a collaboration between WMEAC and the City of Grand Rapids. Refuse collected from the river and its banks during revious clean ups include plastic and glass bottles, plastic bags, tires, television sets, discarded clothing, shoes, roofing shingles, a discarded bed with mattress, fishing and camping equipment and many other assorted items.
Read More Read LessAmong the largest concerns within the emergency management community is ensuring that the public is aware of the potential threats including poor air quality, extreme heat, flash flooding, and increased exposure to viruses and diseases. This includes education and communication systems that will warn citizens to the imminent threat and what options are available to avoid danger such as cooling centers or evacuation routes. Further, planning in each of those areas must consider specific actions for vulnerable populations within the community. Using GIS tools and sensory data can show where the largest concentrations of vulnerable populations are, and which portions of the community will be impacted most by heat, flooding, pollution, etc. Whether there are resources for creating new data or planners must rely on previously generated data, there is a need to combine them with a perspective on climate change. Existing community vulnerability assessments regarding known emergency events should be revised to include the prospective changes that will occur due to climate change.
Read More Read Less- Human health
A partnership between the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Valley State University to provide an opportunity for City Departments to request and obtain valuable research and analysis regarding vital policy decisions surround economic, social, and environmental issues. It provides an opportunity for student to experience real work environment.
Read More Read Less- Human health
Mayor Rosalynn BlissCity of Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Status of compliance
Compact of Mayors