Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday directed state agencies to begin working toward new sustainability goals, including reducing waste, dropping carbon emissions and cutting water and energy consumption.
The governor's executive order sets targets for Minnesota's state government to achieve by 2027.
Among them is reducing fossil fuel consumption by state-owned vehicles by 30 percent over the next decades, in part by converting 20 percent of the fleet to electric vehicles. Many build on efforts already underway to make state operations more environmentally friendly and more cost effective.
"This executive order will build on that work — reducing energy use, eliminating waste, and saving money," Dayton said in a news release.
"By meeting these targets, we can improve environmental outcomes and make state government work better for Minnesotans."
Other directions from the governor include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2027 and dropping water usage by 25 percent by 2025.
By 2030, Dayton wants state operations to boost recycling and composting of waste to a combined 75 percent, with an eventual goal of producing zero waste.
The governor said a 90 percent recycling rate within the Capitol complex would save the equivalent of 42,772 gallons of gasoline.
