2025: Individual Lifetime Achievement
Mike LeBeau retired in December as Duluth’s Construction and Energy Projects Supervisor, but his contributions to energy efficiency and climate efforts started much earlier. Mike's energy awareness began on a road trip in the mid 1970’s, when he had to sleep in his car at a gas station that had run out of gasoline. Experiences with the growing environmental movement and early warnings about climate change evolved into work on building performance and renewable energy. As efforts to reduce climate pollution faltered, Mike’s focus shifted from mitigation to adaptation. His work with the City of Duluth influenced many high-profile storm restoration projects such as the Canal Park Lakewalk and Brighton Beach Park. Before working for the city, he was well known as a regional expert in high performance construction and renewable energy strategies. He has worked widely to educate on energy, mitigation and adaptation efforts. As a founding board member of the Passive House Institute US, he helped train the first batches of Certified Passive House Consultants across the US. He served on Duluth’s very first Cities for Climate Protection Campaign Committee and helped instigate a City of Duluth energy fund and energy coordinator position. He also founded a business offering products and services related to building performance and renewable energy which he ran for 20 years.
