Businesses in 35 cities across the Great Lakes States will likely be called upon to help their communities meet some ambitious greenhouse gas reduction pledges. EPA Region 5 announced on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, that 35 Midwest communities have joined its Community Climate Change Initiative and committed to take action to reduce their towns' carbon footprints.

The communities are as follows:

Illinois (16 communities)

• Alton
• Bellwood
• Carbondale
• Des Plaines
• Evanston
• Evergreen Park
• Gilberts
• Hoffman Estates
• Niles
• Oak Park
• Orland Park
• Rock Island
• Schaumburg
• Urbana
• Warrenville
• Westmont

Indiana (4)

• Fort Wayne
• Indianapolis
• Michigan City
• West Lafayette

Michigan (2)

• Delta Township
• Kalamazoo

Minnesota (7)

• Apple Valley
• Falcon Heights
• Northfield, Oakdale
• Roseville
• Sauk Rapids
• St. Cloud

Ohio (4)

• Cleveland
• Columbus
• East Palestine
• Rittman

Wisconsin (2)

• Bayfield
• Waukesha

The EPA's Great Lakes Region launched the Community Climate Change Initiative in 2009, calling on communities to join one of six EPA climate change partnership programs: Energy Star Challenge, WasteWise, WaterSense, Combined Heat and Power, Green Power Partnership and Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

Links

• More information on Region 5's Community Climate Change Initiative: