WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – The City of Woodbury has been awarded a 2025 Blazing Star Award for its Environmental Stewardship Plan. The honor was bestowed by the non-profit Conservation Minnesota.
The stewardship plan, adopted last year, set “ambitious goals” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to City Administrator Clint Gridley. Eight sectors are targeted to reduce emissions: transportation and land use, buildings and energy, waste management, food and agriculture, greenspace and ecosystems, health and safety, and the economy.
“Conservation Minnesota specifically highlights the City’s robust community engagement efforts and its focus on increasing public transit use, expanding renewable energy adoption, reducing per capita water consumption and solid waste generation, and enhancing the resilience of local businesses,” Gridley stated in a memo to the council.
Conservation Minnesota called the plan all-encompassing with goals for the next 10 years that were developed after many years of community collaboration and input. “To see this community taking such bold steps toward drastic reductions in greenhouse gases across so many sectors is truly inspiring. Woodbury is certainly a leader in this work,” said Avery Hildebrand, public engagement program manager at Conservation Minnesota.
Woodbury was one of three recipients of the award this year. The others are the City of Bloomington for its time of sale energy disclosure reports included in housing evaluations and White Earth Band of Ojibwe for its youth outdoor skills engagement program. Twenty-eight projects were submitted for the honor.
The city will receive the award at the next city council meeting scheduled for May 28.
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