Rochester, Minnesota is being nationally recognized by a PBS television program for its collaborative efforts to reach a more sustainable future. A crew from This American Land, a conservation newsmagazine series, spent time in Rochester in July 2020 to record the segment, titled “Urban Renewable Energy.”
“The city of Rochester has some ambitious environmental targets and we’ve seen a great response from the community, “says Kevin Bright, director of energy and sustainability for Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency and the City of Rochester. “This program pulls the curtain back on some of our sustainability efforts in Rochester with support from the McKnight Foundation and many individuals and organizations in Southeast Minnesota.”
The segment features several public and private partners that are working with DMC and the City of Rochester to achieve sustainability goals. Organizations and businesses highlighted include Mayo Clinic and its steps to reduce energy consumption, Rochester Public Transit’s rapid transit system planning and micro-mobility initiatives, Rochester Public Utilities and its goal to provide 100% renewable power by 2030, and the Berkman’s sustainability features that earned the apartment building a Silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The video segment is now available to view online and is expected to be broadcast on PBS later in 2021.