Monday, April 16, 2007
Growing greener in Roanoke and Blacksburg
From the RoundTable blog
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C. Nelson Harris and Ron Rordam
Harris is mayor of Roanoke. Rordam is mayor of Blacksburg.
As communities around the country embrace the concept of going "green," many are also realizing that they cannot do it alone. Governments may recognize municipal boundaries, but carbon emissions do not. Weather patterns can carry pollutants miles from their source, creating unexpected levels of smog and acid rain in even the most environmentally conscientious localities.
The city of Roanoke and the town of Blacksburg understand that a regional approach to the problem of greenhouse gases offers a more sustainable solution.
Last year, both localities joined Local Governments for Sustainability (formerly known as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) as a step forward in achieving this goal. The organization provides technical assistance, emissions analysis software, case studies, training workshops, publications and other learning, networking and recognition opportunities to assist localities in becoming green communities.
Realizing behaviors have an impact not only on their own citizens but on neighboring communities, Roanoke and Blacksburg are taking the lead among local governments in Southwest Virginia by working with Virginia Tech's Green Engineering Program and the Shenandoah Valley Air Quality Initiative, part of the Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability at James Madison University, to learn emissions assessment methods. This training is the first step in the Local Governments for Sustainability's "Cities for Climate Protection Campaign," which helps localities assess their carbon footprint and identify good practices that promote environmental health for their cities.
Being "green" has never been more important than it is today. People want to live in forward-thinking communities, places that understand the value of conserving natural resources and the concept of environmental stewardship. In fact, emphasis on the environmental health and livability of cities has become a major drawing card for attracting new residents and businesses.
Among the effective strategies implemented by Roanoke to achieve status as a green community are a strong, citywide recycling program, an urban forestry plan to replenish its tree canopy, and the establishment of household hazardous waste collection days.
In addition to some of these same practices, Blacksburg has established strong partnerships with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to advance environmental issues and sustainability practices. Blacksburg is the only locality in Virginia to meet the DEQ's Environmental Excellence Program's E3 designation on an organization-wide level.
Most important, both localities have made the decision to purchase biodiesel fuel for use in their government vehicles to reduce emissions. Roanoke began using biodiesel in December, Blacksburg and Virginia Tech will begin in June.
Air pollution is a major concern for the Shenandoah and New River valleys. We believe preserving and protecting the natural beauty for which these valleys are known is vitally important to future growth and sustainability. The challenge is to reduce emissions as our populations continue to increase. Our hope is that the efforts made by Roanoke and Blacksburg will inspire other local governments to consider similar initiatives and move toward becoming green communities. Blacksburg and Roanoke will continue to work together to find new ways to be good stewards of our environment.
The smaller carbon footprints we produce because of these responsible actions will allow us to tread more lightly upon the Earth.
