CitiesGoGreen - December 2008 - (Page 7)

In Motion New York Certifies Green Transport Projects The New York State Department of Transportation has a new certification program for recognizing environmentallyfriendly transport projects, the first of its kind in the US. The Green Leadership in Transportation and Environmental Sustainability (pdf ) program (Green LITES) rates state road and bridge project designs according to how many sustainable elements are incorporated. Modeled on the LEED rating system for buildings, projects receive ratings of certified, silver, gold or evergreen for features like protecting fish or wildlife habitat, improving bicycle or pedestrian facilities, minimizing stormwater runoff, or selecting a site that minimizes environmental impacts. The program has been applauded by organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society for its emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable design. A Totally Wind-Powered Town ©seraphic06-fotolia.com In April, Rock Port, MO became the first 100% wind-powered community in the United States. With a population of 1300, Rock Port supplies all its electrical needs from four wind turbines located on agricultural land within the city limits. The wind farm generates tax revenue for the city from the developer, Wind Capital Group, and local landowners benefit from leasing part of their property to the developer. Residents can expect no increase in electricity rates for the next 15 to 20 years. The town anticipates the turbines will produce more electricity than Rock Port needs, with excess power being sold to the grid for use in other communities. The local electric utility has agreed to supply power back to Rock Port if the wind farm’s production should drop. Photo courtesy The Hub Pedal Project Bicycle Recycling Takes Off Bicycle recycling centers are spreading and growing, providing green jobs, job training, youth empowerment, and low-carbon transportation, not to mention creating social fabric. Volunteers, employees, members and customers mix to teach skills, repair, maintain and rebuild bikes with donated or salvaged (and new as needed) parts. Finished bikes are given away, earned or sold. Diverting tons of potential landfill, they make transportation alternatives more available and affordable, and become community centers involving everyone from teens and the homeless to commuters, recreational cyclists and bike professionals. With names like Recycle Bicycles, Bikes Not Bombs and Bikes for the World, and a focus on inner city youth and others for whom owning a bike is a big step up, there’s clearly a social mission and awareness. Pine, CO bike recycler Bruce Lien told the Christian Science Monitor, “I’ve been a witness to how powerful a thing a bike can be.” Power Purchase Agreement Funds Santa Barbara Solar The City of Santa Barbara, CA has entered a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) to finance construction of a solar electric system on the roof of a downtown city building. Under the agreement, renewable energy services provider Tioga Energy will finance, operate and maintain the 331 kilowatt solar facility. The city will purchase the solar-generated electricity from Tioga at a fixed escalation rate over 20 years. The roof-mounted photovoltaic system will include 1,830 solar panels and cover a block and a half at the Corporation Yard, producing enough electricity to power 1,040 single-family homes. The city chose EI Solutions to design and install the system, which will incorporate the aesthetic requirements of its location in Santa Barbara’s historic district into its design. Greentechmedia.com projects this type of financing as a growing trend, though it is subject to changing conditions. December 2008 7 http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/in-motion/new-york-certifies-green-transport-projects http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/in-motion/new-york-certifies-green-transport-projects http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=6812&res=1024 http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=6812&res=1024 http://www.nysdot.gov/programs/greenlites/repository/Green%20LITES%20Certification%20Program%20-%20Full%20Doc%20-%20Final.pdf http://www.seraphic06-fotolia.com http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/in-motion/a-totally-wind-powered-town http://www.windcapitalgroup.com http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/in-motion/bicycle-recyling-takes-off http://recyclebicycles.net http://recyclebicycles.net http://bikesnotbombs.org/ http://bikesfortheworld.org/ http://vimeo.com/1706577 http://vimeo.com/1706577 http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/10/08/bicycle-recyclers-empower-riders/ http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/in-motion/power-purchase-agreement-funds-santa-barbara-solar http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/SustainableSB/ http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/CAP/MG61254/AS61258/AS61273/AS61284/AI64359/DO64402/DO_64402.pdf http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/city-santa-barbara-powers-up/story.aspx?guid=%7B6C13C20F-2BA9-4888-81DE-88D2777A28A4%7D&dist=hppr http://www.tiogaenergy.com http://www.eispv.com http://www.Greentechmedia.com http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/power-purchase-agreements-to-spike-591.html http://citiesgogreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

Citites Go Green Contents In Motion We’re Taking Steps 10,000 Rain Gardens in Kansas City Chicago Center for Green Technology Connecticut’s ‘One Thing’ Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management Philadelphia The Economics of What Matters New Context: New Possibility

CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

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