Sustainability

Welcome!

The goal of the city’s sustainability initiatives is to “meet community needs and aspirations and best optimize the unique nature of the community without compromising the well-being of future generations.” 

The climate crisis poses an immense threat to our present and future. We cannot and will not wait to combat it. In this fight, sustainability across all sectors of our city is of the utmost importance. As stated in Middleton’s Comprehensive plan, “Middleton will respond to disruptive changes in our climate, ecological, and social systems in ways that connect us to an emerging future rather than by reacting against the patterns of the past – which can mean perpetuating systems that are not sustainable (structural racism, ecological destruction, and profit-oriented decision-making that does not protect people’s and the environment’s well-being).” We must understand and act upon the intersectionality of sustainability by promoting healthy community, protecting our natural environment, improving accessibility, addressing systemic and practiced inequities, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in pursuit of lasting environmental, social, and economic justice.

The Middleton Sustainability Committee meets once a month (typically on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 pm) and is charged with making policy recommendations to the Middleton Common Council pertaining to environmental sustainability. The committee also organizes community events, such as the Clean & Green Middleton recycling event and the LED lightbulb exchange event. Please feel free to peruse the links on this page and don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.

Kelly Hilyard, MLA
khilyard@cityofmiddleton.us
Sustainability Coordinator
Staff liaison to the Sustainability Committee


2023 Sustainable Middleton Awards

Do you know of any individuals, businesses, or organizations in Middleton that have been making a positive difference to help make our community more sustainable? 

After 81% of Middleton voters overwhelmingly called for climate change action, Middleton’s Common Council adopted a resolution with goals for ending community-wide use of fossil fuels. To meet these goals, a major effort is needed to promote renewable energy and to reduce energy consumption through conservation and efficiency.

To help raise awareness to meet this challenge, Middleton’s Sustainability Committee launched a “Sustainable Middleton Awards” program in 2022. This awards program recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations that have taken significant sustainability actions over the past year or more. Actions being considered include: Energy (renewables, efficiency, or conservation); Land stewardship; Environmental education; Food; Transportation; Waste reduction; Water conservation and runoff reduction. These awards are also meant to inspire and motivate other residents, businesses, community groups, and non-profits to implement similar sustainable actions. 

For more information, please visit the 2023 Sustainable Awards Information Page

To apply, please complete the 2023 Sustainable Awards Application

Applications are due by January 31, 2024, with the awards given to selected recipients in April.

Awards and Achievements


Plans and Resolutions
   

The Middleton Sustainability Committee is excited to share the recently approved "Sustainable City Plan". This is the first update of the plan since it was originally published in 2010.

The new plan focuses on actions that the Sustainability Committee and city staff can take over the next three years to move Middleton closer to achieving the goals of Resolution 2018-32, “Resolution to Address Global Warming through Clean Energy.” Most of the actions in the draft plan are from the Green City chapter of the 2021 Comprehensive Plan.

 

Sustainability Pictured Around Middleton


Powerful 5MW solar garden at Middleton Municipal Airport