The city of Radford recently earned Silver Certification in the 2009 Virginia Municipal League Green Government Challenge, a competition among localities to encourage policies and actions that reduce carbon emissions.

A locality earns "green points" for specific actions taken.

Others earning the Silver Certification were Lynchburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach, Winchester, Vienna and Henrico County.

The Green Government Challenge is part of VML's larger Go Green Virginia Environmental Initiative that kicked off in late 2007.

The certificates and awards were presented at the VML Annual Conference on Oct. 20.

-- The Roanoke Times