This resolution directs the City Treasurer to shift up to $2.5 million in city funds to local financial institutions. Continue reading
Net metering is a common distributed renewable energy policy in the United States, allowing individuals to “turn back” their meter (and reduce their electric bill) by generating on-site electricity. But utility accounting systems typically prevent people from sharing the output from a single, common solar or wind project. Virtual (or group or neighborhood) net metering… Continue reading
Many people expect that solar power will dramatically expand once it bursts through the cost barrier and becomes less expensive than grid electricity. But archaic utility rules can effectively cap local solar development at just 15% of peak demand. Fortunately, pioneering states like Hawaii and California are exploring ways to lift the cap and bring… Continue reading
The Town of Markham, Ontario, Canada, has one of the most progressive and successful organic waste reduction programs in North America. Markham has taken a comprehensive environmental approach, by implementing policies that reduce organic waste across the public, private, and residential sectors. Continue reading
On March 15th, 2007, the City of Leander, Texas passed and approved the Water Conservation Ordinance No. 07-018-00. Drought prone climate conditions and sharing water rights to/supply from the Colorado River with regional states warranted expanded water conservation and environmental landscaping policies; most notably, a minimum required percentage of organic content in landscaping activities. Continue reading
The City of Greeley, Colorado has enforced water restrictions for over a century, but in recent years has decided to make the use of compost mandatory, requiring a specific minimum amount of compost for all new lawn installations. Continue reading
On a local level, King County, Washington, has one of the best environmental procurement programs in the country. King County Code (KCC) 10.16, CON 7-1-2-AEP mandates public agencies to purchase sustainable products and implement environmental strategies that meet specific stringent standards (see link below). The King County Environmental Purchasing Policy (EPP) was first implemented in… Continue reading
The City of San Francisco has some of the most progressive recycling regulations in the country. These regulations were further strengthened in June 2009 when the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring all city residents to separate food scraps, recyclable material, and trash into three separate curbside containers (blue for recycling, black for trash, and green for composting). Starting in 2011 the City will be able to impose fines on those who do not effectively separate these materials. The fine will be $100 for small businesses and single occupancy homes and up to $1,000 for large businesses and multi-unit buildings. Continue reading
By requiring the use of compost in construction and landscape projects, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is becoming a model for environmental stewardship. Governmental agencies throughout the United States can look toward NYSDOT to see how the public sector is adapting its procurement policies to take advantage of the design and maintenance benefits of compost amended soil. Continue reading
The report finds that while the economics of solar continue to improve, a number of unexpected barriers have arisen. Homes often need electrical upgrades and local governments struggle to keep up with permit requests. Utilities are also reluctant to give up their market dominance, enforcing antiquated rules about grid interconnection that can add significant expense, delay, or even kill projects entirely. Continue reading
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