Staff Writer- Emily Heins
Beginning in September, the City of Saint Peter will launch its own Sustainability Task Force. The group is designed to be community-driven and action-oriented, bringing together local officials and representatives from fields such as education, healthcare, government, and energy conservation. Members will work collaboratively with organizations to create a more sustainable and resilient community.
The 12-member committee, approved by the City Council in August, will meet for the first time later this month to address key questions: What is already happening locally to support sustainability? What can be achieved together that individual organizations cannot achieve alone? And which priorities should be emphasized for the greatest local impact?
Organizers and community leaders say they are eager to see how the task force can strengthen collaboration and accelerate ongoing efforts.
According to Kari Wallin, Sustainability Manager and Co-Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation at Gustavus, the task force’s goals are to identify current sustainability programs and assets, expand community awareness and engagement, and establish practical, high-impact projects that can be implemented across the city.
Saint Peter has already made progress toward sustainability by installing solar panels on municipal buildings, upgrading streetlights to LED systems, expanding recycling services, and adding electric vehicle charging stations downtown, according to The Saint Peter Herald. City officials believe the task force will build on these steps by coordinating resources and expanding opportunities for involvement.
The City is also backing the task force with logistical support and resources because sustainability is one of its Council’s top identified priorities. Along with environmental goals, Saint Peter is focused on building a welcoming community, supporting housing and healthcare, strengthening local businesses, responding to demographic changes, and promoting education. While the task force will start by working with the city’s largest institutions, the long-term vision is for it to expand and adapt as more residents and organizations get involved.
Although the task force is focused on the city as a whole, its efforts are expected to affect Gustavus students as well. Projects that encourage renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and waste reduction could directly benefit campus life and strengthen ties between the college and the community.
Gustavus student and sustainability intern Soren Sackreiter, said the task force could “benefit Gustavus students with something as simple as expanding bike infrastructure and improving transportation, adding more green spaces, and also building a stronger connection between the college and the community.” He added that it also represents “a larger responsibility to make the world better for the future and for all of us in it.”
Task force organizers also see Gustavus as a key partner in building this momentum.
“We haven’t met yet as a task force, but one of my goals is to celebrate and highlight the great sustainability work Gustavus is already doing—things like zero-waste efforts, solar energy, decarbonization, and energy savings,” Gustavus Facilities Director Travis Jordan said. “This task force is a chance to partner with the broader community, set shared goals, and learn from one another. Students should be excited that Gustavus is helping lead these conversations beyond campus, and they can support this work by staying engaged—recycling, composting, reducing energy use, and keeping sustainability a daily priority.”
The task force also aims to create pathways for students and residents to get involved. The city’s Sustainability and Communications Coordinator, Corree Johnson, emphasized that community participation is central to its work. “
One of our goals is the development of a ‘green team,’ which would be volunteers interested in taking part in the projects the task force works on and helping to spread awareness and education throughout the community,” Johnson said.
As the task force begins its work, city officials and local partners see the effort as an opportunity to build momentum and make sustainability a lasting part of Saint Peter’s identity. With challenges ahead, they say progress will depend on collaboration—and the involvement of both institutions and residents.
As for what Gustavus students can do to help these sustainability efforts: by aligning with city projects, students and campus leaders can contribute fresh ideas, pilot small-scale initiatives, and lend momentum to make Saint Peter better for our future.
“This task force is truly community-oriented, and hopefully this force will grow and adapt as the Saint Peter community continues to grow with it,” Johnson said.