Grand Rapids Reporter

The City of Grand Rapids improved its national energy ranking for a second year, moving up to 31st in the nation and ahead of larger cities.

Grand Rapids moved up from 33rd in 2020 and 38th in 2019 in the American Council on an Energy-Efficient Economy's City Clean Energy Scorecard. The council ranks 100 major U.S. cities on efforts to reduce energy waste in homes and buildings and move toward a cleaner power grid in an equitable manner, according to its website.

The city’s energy ranking "is impressive, considering the Grand Rapids-Kentwood metropolitan statistical area is the 52nd largest area evaluated," Alison Waske Sutter, sustainability and performance management officer for the City of Grand Rapids, said. "And, with the work that the City is currently focusing on, we feel confident we will continue to move up in the rankings."

Cities can earn points by requiring large buildings to cut energy waste, according to the city's website. Points increase if they subsidize transit access for historically marginalized groups and provide other transportation options. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions also adds to the total.

Grand Rapids cut metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents – also called a carbon or greenhouse gas emissions footprint – by 30% in 2020, Waske Sutter said. She expects the city to increase that number to 47% by 2025. This includes all energy consumed by city facilities, utilities (water, sewer, and street lighting), and fleets (800 vehicles including police, fire, street sweepers, and refuse trucks).

Community-wide climate goals have been adopted by 63 cities, the coalition said. Only 38 have released sufficient data to assess their progress, with19 of those on track to achieve their goals. 

This was the first year that cities’ progress toward climate goals for the transportation sector was assessed. This is based on vehicle miles traveled or greenhouse gas emissions, using a comprehensive review of the cities’ reported data. Goals were adopted by 25 cities, with 3 on track to achieve them.

"While we are outpacing some of the larger cities listed, Grand Rapids isn’t satisfied with status quo and is well-positioned to continue improving our clean energy score," Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said. "We will continue to focus on reducing municipal energy and carbon, sourcing renewable energy, and supporting carbon reduction efforts across the city. Working with our departments and partners across the city will help us continue to improve our overall score."