The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), along with a variety of other state agencies and community partners, participated in the spring 2023 EV (Electrical Vehicle) Showcase hosted by the Office of Enterprise Sustainability at the State Capitol in St. Paul.

Nearly 200 event attendees had the opportunity to see “the latest and greatest EVs available in MN,” including pickup trucks, buses, eBikes and electric groundskeeping equipment.

MDVA’s program table displayed various electric groundskeeping equipment from the Minnesota Veterans Home - Hastings; the Home’s plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica was featured in the sedan/SUV lineup. Other EVs in the agency’s fleet include a fully electric Chevy Bolt as well as plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Mitsubishi Outlanders and Ford Fusions. Approximately 35 MDVA table visitors were armed with lots of questions, most focused on the battery life and noise level of the equipment and the operational ease of an electric vs. non-electric chainsaw.

Mark Duclos, Facility Grounds and Transportation Services Supervisor, Hastings Veterans Home, noted that his grounds crew has permanently adopted using the electric equipment on his campus. “The team likes the ease of use,” said Duclos. “There’s no oil and gas mixture, no carburetors to clean, no air filter to replace, no flooded engine and it’s not necessary to winterize the equipment for seasonal storage. Overall, the switch to electric equipment has been positive and we’re not turning back.”

How does sustainability intersect with MDVA’s mission and vision?

The idea of sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of present-day populations without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their energy and water needs. Advancing our sustainability efforts helps to enhance the care and services we provide Minnesota’s Veterans and their families, while reducing environmental impacts and costs. How do those goals connect?

• Air pollution related to transportation emissions can have negative health impacts on vulnerable groups, like our Residents. Electrifying our fleet improves air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps us reach our sustainability goals.*
• Fresh water is a finite natural resource meaning that there is only so much that is available to us in ponds, lakes, streams and aquifers. Conserving water ensures that we’ll have enough for current and future generations.
• Growing fresh food for our dietary operations improves the nutritional value of the meals we serve at the Veterans Homes.

In addition, MDVA’s recycling and reuse efforts speak to the lessons of past generations who often shared, “waste not, want not” and “take care of the land and it will take care of you.” Conserving energy and water while reducing waste to save money helps to direct more resources to programs and services for those we serve.

To learn more about how we are taking care of the world so it can take care of future generations, visit sustainability.mn.gov.

*MDVA is making great progress toward achieving the sustainability goals outlined in Governor Walz’s Executive Order 19-27. Read more here.