Oakland County Creates an Eco-Friendly Present for a Sustainable Future

Oakland County held its first-ever sustainability conference at the Waterford Oaks Activity Center on Nov. 17 and representatives from 20 communities came to learn from each other about sustainability efforts happening around the county.

Hosted by Erin Quetell, Oakland County’s first chief environmental sustainability officer, the event encouraged community leaders to share their needs, barriers and successes while learning how to access and use federal and state-funded opportunities for sustainable infrastructures, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and more.

*Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell kicks off the event with County Executive Dave Coulter.*

The leaders came from all corners of the county to attend Community Conversations: Sustainability, including Berkley, Birmingham, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, Troy, Beverly Hills, Milford, Ortonville and Brandon and Royal Oak Townships.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter gave opening remarks and explained one of the county’s strategic goals is environmental sustainability.

“We were intentional when we created a sustainability office when I first became Oakland County executive and made it a priority. But, I know that not every city has the resources for such an office. So that’s why we are here today to convene communities to let you know what federal, state, local and county resources are out there that can be tapped by you for projects that you are planning,”
County Executive Dave Coulter

Funding and grant applications were the most popular topics for the 20 cities, villages and townships with many of them looking to create more energy-efficient municipal buildings.

Quetell also announced the county’s partnership with Michigan Saves, the state’s non-profit green energy bank, to create Oakland SAVES (Simple Actions for Valuable Energy Savings). Oakland County will use the program, to distribute $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to help residents improve their home’s energy efficiency, such as installing insulation and ENERGY STAR products. Applications for the Oakland SAVES program will be available early next year.

Michigan Works Toward Cleaner Environment

Cory Connolly, climate and energy advisor, leading the Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), introduced the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward economy-wide carbon neutrality.

Danielle Beard, Michigan Green Communities coordinator at Michigan Municipal League explained how local, regional and state governments could collaborate and benchmark their sustainability progress.

Oakland County Makes Sustainability More Accessible for Local Governments and Residents

*LEFT: Chief Engineer Lynne Seymour and Oakland County Water Resources Government Policy Attorney Sara Rubino*

Oakland County Water Resources Government Policy Attorney Sara Rubino and Chief Engineer Lynne Seymour explained how the Water Resources Commission (WRC) helps residents cover bills and plumbing expenses through the Hardship Assistance Program and Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP), and how the WRC is helping develop future policies to lower costs for citizens. They also discussed the RainSmart Rebate program for homeowners who use green rain gardens, rain barrels, and trees.

*Oakland County’s Neighborhood & Housing Development Division*

From the Neighborhood & Housing Development Division, Neighborhood and Housing Development Officer Khadija Walker-Fobbs addressed the newly formed Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the development and maintenance of affordable housing for Oakland County residents, and how government entities, developers and local housing authorities can apply for a portion of the fund.

Jennifer Llewellyn, Manager of Workforce Development at Oakland County and Director of Oakland County Michigan Works! emphasized how everything from housing to infrastructure investment, is connected to workforce development. She highlighted the county’s programs to educate and train individuals to work in the growing electric vehicle (EV) and mobility industries via the EV Jobs Academy and the Global Epicenter of Mobility — Talent Transformation. She also touched on the Going Pro Talent Fund, which helps small business owners offset the cost of training their employees, and Registered Apprenticeship Programs in various industries, such as software development.

SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments) wrapped up the event with ways local governments could fund environmental sustainability projects within their cities, townships and villages.

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