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Local Environmental Initiatives & the Economy:. Complete Chaos or Opportunity?. Unconventional Wisdom. Presentation Preview. Political Leadership Directives Achieving Substantial Progress Toward these Directives Costs Avoided and Funding Sources
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Local Environmental Initiatives & the Economy: Complete Chaos or Opportunity?
Presentation Preview • Political Leadership Directives • Achieving Substantial Progress Toward these Directives • Costs Avoided and Funding Sources • Rockville-Specific Environmental Initiatives • Qs/ Discussion
Federal Direction • Create 5 Million New Green Jobs by 2019 • EPA - $7.2 Billion (Water, Sewer, Brownfields, & Remediation) • DOE - $32.7 Billion (Efficiency, Renewables, & Weatherization) • COE/DOI - $9 Billion (Navigation, Flood Control, Hydro, Wetlands, Water Systems, Abandoned Mines, Reuse, Stream Gauging, & Fed. Infrastructure, Roads and Bridges
Federal Direction Cont.) • Address Climate Change/Reduce Greenhouse Gases • Become Energy Independent • Undermines National Security • Strains Family Budgets • Cripples the Economy
Maryland Direction • Create 100,000 Green Jobs by 2015 • Restore the Chesapeake Bay • Reduce Greenhouse Gases • Reduce Energy Consumption by 15% by 2015, & Achieve 20% Renewable Energy by 2022 • Build Using Smart, Sustainable, Transit-Oriented Concepts
Rockville Vision • Our Mayor and Council Have Set Following Themes: • Rockville Shall Become a Green City • With a Quality-Built (Energy Efficient) Environment • And a Sustainable Economy
Essential Tools (Cont.) • Enterprise Funds & Fees • Impervious Surface Fees • Traditional CIP Bonds • Volunteer Professional Help • Purchasing Goods & Services Ks • Prioritizing, Monitoring and Measuring Performance
Rockville’s Environment & Sustainability Initiatives • Dedicated Environmental Staff • 9 Member Resident Environment Commission • City-Wide Sustainability Strategy (2007 Strategic Planning Tool)
Rockville’s Program (Cont.) • Strong Legal & Policy Foundation: • Comprehensive Zoning Update • Water Quality Protection Ordinance • Tree Protection Ordinance • Green Building Code • Stormwater Ordinance
Rockville’s Program (Cont.) • Town Center - Smart Growth Makeover of the City’s Core • Energy Efficiency Upgrades • Nearly $300k in Savings Last 2 Years [HVAC, Lighting, Office Equipment] • Environmental Management System (EMS) for City Facilities
Rockville’s Program (Cont.) • Single-Stream Residential Recycling & Mandatory Commercial & Multi-Family • Wind-Generated Electrical Power • Biofuel Used in all Diesel Vehicles • Upgrade Air Pollution Devices on City Vehicles • LED in all Traffic Signals and Street Light Pilot
Rockville’s Program (Cont.) • Stormwater Program • Stream Buffer Zones: 125-175 feet • Watershed Studies (3) • Stream Restoration Projects • Soil & Erosion Construction Permits • Adopt-A-Stream/Clean Up Events • Capital Program Sewer/Storm Drain Replacement
Rockville’s Program (Cont.) • Stormwater (Continued) • Volunteer Monitoring • Inspection & Maintenance • Rainbarrel Demonstrations • Public Workshops & Rebates • Aggressive FOG and Spill Program
Other Rockville Efforts • Bike Master Plan & Large Bike Trail Network • Backyard Habitat/Community Gardens • Biennial Citizen Survey of Our Performance • Substantial Website Investment • Monthly Newspaper Articles & Cable TV Stories
Funding Sources • Taxes (General Fund) • Grants (Public/Private) • Enterprise Fees: • Development Review/Permits • Stormwater Utility • Refuse (Recycling) Collection • Drinking Water • Sewer Service • Volunteers
Contact Information • Mark Charles, Chief Environmental Management 30 Courthouse Square Rockville, MD 20850-2302 (240) 314-8871 mcharles@rockvillemd.gov www.rockvillemd.gov/environment
Questions & Discussion Qs???
What Does This Direction Mean? • Investments & Improvements in: • Alternative Energy & Conservation Practices • Greenhouse Gas Reductions • Green Zoning and Buildings
What Does This Direction Mean? (Cont.) • Smart Growth and Transit • Recycling and Reuse • Water Quality Protection • Watersheds (Stormwater) • Sources of Drinking Water
What Does This Direction Mean? (Cont.) • Fixing Aging Infrastructure • Substituting a Less Consumptive Way of Doing (Any) Business • Looking at the Whole Cost of Goods and Services – Not Just the Purchase Price (Maintain & Dispose/Reuse Opportunities)
Can You Afford to Wait? • High Electricity & Fuel Prices • Failing Infrastructure • Higher Cost for Purchased Goods • Litter Collection & Refuse Tipping Fees • Further Bay Deterioration & Rising Sea Levels • Emerging Employment Opportunities • Public Support & Consumer Preferences for Green Initiatives & Products
Tools for a Sustainable Economy (Cont.) • Incentives ($$ & Approval Processes) • City and County Code Updates • Focused Information and Networking • Public Outreach & Assistance