The Michigan Municipal League is supporting a statewide initiative to help communities plan for a transition to electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles. Led by the Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) and supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, we are collaborating with more than 40 partners to develop a statewide electric vehicle charging infrastructure preparedness plan. One of the goals of this plan, the Plug-In Ready Michigan Plan, is to provide local governments with the necessary tools and resources to begin including electric vehicle charging stations in public and private parking spaces.

Local government officials and staff are critical to this effort and ultimately will be the ones to implement whatever policy and procedures are recommended in the plan. Consequently, CEC does not want to move forward with this important planning process without your support and counsel. They have designed a survey to help ensure your voice is heard and help them better understand your requirements and perspectives on the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in Michigan.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Green Communities Challenge. Contact him by email or follow him on Twitter.

October 28, the League hosted - with generous sponsorship from the MDEQ Office of Environmental Assistance - approximately 60 leaders from state and local government and non-profit organizations in Lansing for the 2nd Michigan Green Communities conference. As with the first Green Communities conference in 2010, the focus was on sharing local solutions for environmental sustainability. We were once again blown away by the enthusiasm of people working on these issues as well as by the quality of the local projects discussed. There were a couple notable changes from the first conference, however.

The first difference was the list of topics covered has grown more diverse. Presenters educated their peers on a range of issues, including:

• Economic Gardening
• Global Economic Competitiveness
• Local Food Networks
• Water Conservation and Management
• Curbside Recycling
• Joint Planning Commissions
• Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
• Complete Streets

Videos and slides from the presenters, as well as notes from the discussion groups, are now available at http://www.mml.org/resources/educenter/2011-green_communities_conference.html.

The other major change from 2010 is that the network of Green Communities in Michigan is larger and stronger. We have a new email newsletter and will continue our series of monthly conference calls. Also in 2012 we are expanding our partnerships with the state-funded Energy Demonstration Centers, which will include regional workshops and training sessions. If you're not already on our email list, contact lmatson@a2gov.org. And please continue to share your thoughts on how to help community leaders across the state connect and learn from one another.

Luke Forrest is a Project Coordinator with the Michigan Municipal League. Contact him at lforrest@mml.org, www.twitter.com/l4est or 734-669-6323.

Updating a previous item about plug-in electric vehicles, the City of Auburn Hills, Oakland County and the Clean Energy Coalition are hosting an Electric Vehicle Training September 29 at the Auburn Hills Community Center. Community leaders can learn how to prepare for, and encourage, the transition to electric vehicles. Register by clicking here.

The City of Auburn Hills will also be sharing its experiences with electric vehicle policy at the 2nd Annual Green Communities Conference October 28 in Lansing. That event, like the training described above, is free of charge and includes lunch. Register by clicking here.

The US Department of Energy recently announced a grant to Ann Arbor-based non-profit Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) that will help Michigan communities prepare for and encourage adoption of plug-in electric vehicles. CEC will lead a statewide network of organizations, including the League, in a year-long effort to produce a "Michigan-specific guide enabling local communities to support a comprehensive plan for the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles." The project will incorporate state and local level policy implementation, education and outreach. For more information, contact Luke Forrest with League staff at lforrest@mml.org or 734-699-6323. You can also attend a plug-in vehicle conference in Dearborn October 11-13.