CitiesGoGreen -September 2008 - (Page 18) Fisette views the increasing cost of gas and energy as a potential catalyst for breaking down barriers between jurisdictions, promoting better regional coordination and encouraging local governments to work together to promote more informed and cohesive solutions. Go green, Virginia! In addition to his role as an Arlington County board member, Fisette is currently president of the Virginia Municipal League, a nonpartisan association of city, town and county governments. Recognizing the importance of addressing energy and climate change at a regional and state level, the VML introduced the ‘Go Green Virginia’ initiative, an effort to engage jurisdictions throughout the state toward creating more sustainable governments. The centerpiece of ‘Go Green Virginia’ is the ‘Green Government Challenge,’ a healthy competition between members meant to encourage adoption of practical environmental actions and progressive policies. More than 30 local governments have signed up to participate, and organizers expect at least 50 by the end of September. In addition to the Green Government Challenge, the VML has also sponsored a series of ‘Best Practices’ regional forums across the state, and is publishing a Best Practices Green Book in which local governments can share tips about their successful practices. Arlington County has been an enthusiastic member and advocate of VML’s efforts as an example of the potential for creative problem solving at the state level. Working together Jay Fisette believes most citizens don’t think of traditional jurisdictional boundaries when considering the quality of air and water, roads and the metro system. Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board member and president of the Virginia Municipal League He views the increasing cost of gas and energy as a potential catalyst for breaking down barriers between jurisdictions, promoting better regional coordination and encouraging local governments to work together to promote more informed and cohesive solutions. Saving Puget Sound …and Beyond Saving Puget Sound is “the most ambitious analysis ever attempted of what we’re doing wrong and could do right….[It] includes a comprehensive history and analysis of environmental policy and law across a huge range of complex, knotty, and contentious topics: salmon management, forest management, water rights, treaty rights, and land use planning. The knowledge and work it represents is immense.” —William Dietrich, author of Natural Grace: A case study of what it would really take to conserve a region’s ecological heritage in the face of long-term population growth and climate change. Elizabeth Johnson is the director of Energía Strategies, a consulting business dedicated to teaching empowerment and capacity building tools to U.S. and Latin American based organizations and community groups. She holds a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning and Not-For-Profit Management from the University of Oregon. She can be reached at elizabeth@energiastrategies.com. FREE digital subscriptions for government employees! $72 USD/yr for print with digital edition* $20 USD/yr for digital edition for non-government employees The Charm, Wonder, and Lessons of Pacific Northwest Animals and Plants For more information, see www.savingpugetsound.com Winner, Haig-Brown Award for Environmental Writing, American Fisheries Society, North Pacific International Chapter Subscribe today at CitiesGoGreen.com or call 866-686-8101 *Additional postage may apply for non-U.S. subscriptions. 18 .com September 2008 http://www.savingpugetsound.com http://CitiesGoGreen.com http://www.CitiesGoGreen.com http://www.savingpugetsound.com http://CitiesGoGreen.com
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