Sustainability emerged as a core value in the County's 20-year land-use plan for unincorporated areas. In 2020, the County passed a resolution to achieve carbon-neutral government operations by 2050, a goal supported by various ongoing and future initiatives. This theme sets the stage for the Climate Action Plan, which is currently in development.

The County completed an energy assessment in 2023 of 45 meters in buildings across the county and entered the data into ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. The benchmarking program, funded with incentives from Focus on Energy, will allow the County to analyze and track the progress towards its sustainability goals.

A full inventory of County vehicles, completed in late 2023 and early 2024, revealed potential savings of $350,000 by switching 20 cars to plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles. These assessments were part of multiple grant-funded partnerships with Xcel Energy, Sawatch Labs, and Wisconsin Clean Cities.

The County has implemented significant waste reduction and recycling measures. Methane generated from the County-owned landfill currently powers Gunderson Health System, showcasing a successful waste-to-energy initiative. The County is evaluating the feasibility of establishing a microgrid serving the County landfill and Gunderson. Microgrids can create energy savings and improve the climate resilience of vital services.

The Government Operations Plan focuses on achieving carbon neutrality. To facilitate this, a staff advisory team conducted an extensive inventory of County vehicles, identified goals, and performed a greenhouse gas assessment to estimate a baseline of County greenhouse gas emissions. Constant explained the process:

"We gathered all the data with the help of fleet managers and performed assessments. Using the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) ClearPath service, we will project the impact of various initiatives on our carbon footprint. While we don't have a specific implementation timeline set, this tool will help refine our strategy."

The Community Sustainability Plan addresses the broader community, focusing on land conservation and rural initiatives, particularly in the unincorporated areas. This plan aims to enhance sustainability across the region. Constant noted:

"We're still in the planning phases, but we're looking at ways to improve building energy efficiency, protect the environment, and explore renewable energy options. Our goal is to engage the community and develop creative solutions that benefit everyone."