|
|
[ back ]
Greener day dawns for Cool City
(by Cindy Forrest - June 04, 2008)
All over America, communities are taking action to help solve global warming. Local governments are moving forward with innovative energy solutions that curb global warming, save taxpayer dollars, and create healthier cities. These local leaders are moving America toward a safer and more secure future and now its happening right here in Parsippany.
 On Thursday, May 15 Mayor Michael Luther signed the Cool Cities, U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. In doing so he joined almost 1,000 mayors from towns and cities across America who are committed to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by lessening municipal energy consumption.
As a participant in the Cool Cities program, the township of Parsippany is pledging to meet the goal of reduced energy use by using practical and innovative energy solutions that will lower energy waste and pollution; thereby benefiting both the environment and the taxpayer.
“As we go forward thinking globally and acting locally,” said Luther. “We’ll strive to make our carbon footprint less and the environment better.”
The goal for Parsippany is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to below 1990 levels by the year 2012. Step one was taking the pledge, from there the township will conduct a global-warming emissions inventory and then devise a plan for creating solutions, implement the plan and monitor the progress. Sample solutions under the Cool Cities program include the use of clean buses and hybrid cars, ecologically aware technology, and making buildings energy efficient.“Parsippany is way ahead of the pack,” said Jeff Huppert of the Sierra Club. “They have already investigated solar energy and taken other steps to protect the environment.”
“Parsippany is one of the first municipalities in Morris County to officially ‘Go Green’ and we hope to be the poster child for environmental initiatives,” said Council Vice President Ann Grossi.
 As council liaison to the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee [EAC] she saw the process first hand.
“The committee members worked very hard to assist the township in reducing energy costs and making the environment cleaner,” she said.
While the EAC worked to get Parsippany into the Cool Cities program, which encourages and recognizes green initiatives, they have also taken the process one step further. Using their funds, the EAC has enrolled Parsippany in the Regional Plan Association.
Membership in the RPA/NJ entitles the township to hands-on technical assistance and expert analysis of how to reduce the carbon footprint of Parsippany, Morris County’s largest municipality.
RPA/NJ offers recommendations and undertakes specific projects to advance land use planning, economic development, transportation investments and environmental conservation across the state.
Jennifer Cox, a senior planner with the RPA and a climate scientist, outlined the assistance that her organization will provide to Parsippany.
“Using Clean Air and Climate Protection software the RPA/NJ will establish a greenhouse gas baseline,” she said. “It will analyze emissions, forecast emission growth, identify reduction options, quantify the impact of proposed solution before implementation and monitor the program.”
Local government is one of the main focuses of the RPA/NJ because its cooperation is all but guaranteed. According to Cox, there will be an analysis done of government buildings, the vehicle fleet, employee commuting habits, water/sewage practices and streetlights. The RPA will also look at the total community - residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and waste as sources of emissions.
“It has taken years of hard work to get here,” said EAC chairman Laura McCluskey, “but this is only the beginning. We hope in the future to get people to take individual pledges like the one that the mayor signed tonight.”
The members of the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee are: Chairman Laura McCluskey, M. Golam Kabir, George Bareille, Harshad Anjaria, Nancy Coleman, Susan Elbin, Priya Jain, Susan (Lynn) Persson and Ann Grossi, Council Liaison.
Cindy Forrest can be contacted at: forrestc@northjersey.com.
Staff photos by Cindy Forrest
Photo 1: Parsippany Mayor Michael Luther signing the Cool Cities, U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, surrounded by some members of the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee. At far left is the committee chairman, Laura McCluskey, and at far right, Ann Grossi, council liaison.
Photo 2:Jeff Huppert of the Sierra Club at the Cool Cities presentation.
[ back ]
|
|
|
