The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program requests nominations for the 2012 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards. The award program, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in partnership with the Transportation Research Board, recognizes outstanding initiatives across the country to develop, plan, and implement innovative transportation planning practices. Nominations for individuals or organizations that used FHWA/FTA funding to develop a plan, project, or planning process that demonstrates excellence in planning will be accepted. Winners will represent a variety of planning organizations from across the county, and will receive awards at the Transportation Research Board Summer Meeting in 2012.

The application period will be open from October 1, 2011 through December 1, 2011. For more information, visit www.planning.dot.gov/tpea2012.
 
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State and local officials interested in additional information about developing and implementing cost-effective climate and energy strategies that help further environmental goals and achieve public health and economic benefits may visit: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate.

Several Republican presidential candidates — Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the fore — are dismissing climate change as a concoction of misguided or self-serving scientists.

But a growing number of Main Street and regional business leaders, types often viewed as Republican-leaning, are taking the issue ever-more seriously, if not to save the world, at least to serve their bottom lines.

Each year the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, Partners for Livable Communities and the Institute for Sustainable Development give out "Green Plus" awards to local chambers and communities that have launched exemplary, communitywide efforts to "go green" with varieties of carbon-saving initiatives. Winners for 2011 include Cleveland, Chattanooga, Tenn., Savannah, Ga., North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Gatlinburg, Tenn.

>> Read the Full Article

Washington, D.C. – One day before Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman highlights the clean energy jobs created with support from the Obama Administration, the Energy Department announced that the weatherization program under the Recovery Act has now made more than 500,000 low-income homes nationwide more energy-efficient.  The weatherization program is helping families save hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bills, while employing more than 14,000 workers across the country and countless others throughout the supply chain.

The Department of Energy also today released a new video showing the positive impact that the Administration’s clean energy investments in advanced battery manufacturing have had on Michigan workers. Listen to Annette Herrera, an employee with A123 Systems, an advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturer, tell her story. The company also recently announced it has hired its 1000th clean energy employee in Michigan, many of whom were previously out of work.

“Our investments in clean energy innovation are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs around the country, developing entire industries and supply chains, and helping to make American companies to more competitive,” said Deputy Secretary Poneman.  “We are in a race to capitalize on the huge economic and job growth potential of the clean energy economy. Other countries like China are already moving aggressively to develop and deploy these technologies, but with continued investments in innovation, this is a race we can win.”

Earlier this week, the solar industry also released a new report showing the tremendous growth in solar energy jobs over the last two years, in large part because of the leadership of President Obama.   The new figures from the nonprofit Solar Foundation showed that the number of workers in America’s solar energy has more than doubled – growing from 46,000 workers in 2009 to more than 100,000 today.  The Solar Energy Industries Association also released a report on Tuesday that found the demand for U.S. solar photovoltaics grew by nearly 70 percent from the previous year.

News Media Contact: 202-586-4940

This message announces the availability of nearly $155 million in current or upcoming funding opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that can be used to support climate and energy initiatives, including energy efficiency, regional planning, and renewable energy. For full eligibility and application details, please visit the links provided below.
 
*** DOC Economic Development Administration Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and Global Climate Change Mitigation Programs Opportunity – Likely ~$25 million
Application Due: September 15, 2011
Eligible Entities: State and local governments, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, private institutions of higher education
 
This grant program supports projects that foster economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental quality. The funds will be used to advance the green economy by supporting projects that create jobs through—and increase—private capital investment in initiatives to limit the nation's dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural systems. Available funding is likely to be near $25 million.  For more info, including regional contacts, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=58457.
 
*** HUD’s FY2011 Community Challenge Planning Grant Program– $28 million
Application Due: September 16, 2011
Eligible Entities: State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, political subdivisions of state or local governments, and multi-state or multijurisdictional groupings.
 
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s $28 million Community Challenge Planning Grant Program fosters reform and reduces barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities. Such efforts may include amending or replacing local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes, either on a jurisdiction-wide basis or in a specific neighborhood, district, corridor, or sector to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes, and similar activities with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. This program also supports the development of affordable housing through the development and adoption of inclusionary zoning ordinances and other activities to support planning implementation. For more information, visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities/HUD-DOT_Community_Challenge_Grants.
 
*** Model Forest Policy Program – 2012 Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies – $60K
Application Due: September 19, 2011
Eligible Entities: Local communities
 
The Model Forest Policy Program is now accepting applications for 2012 Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies. This program offers rural U.S. communities the opportunity to be part of climate adaptation solutions urgently needed across the country. Rural local governments are invited to apply. Six communities will be provided $10,000 scholarships. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.mfpp.org/csu/.
 
*** NOAA FY 2010-FY2011 Broad Agency Announcement
Application Due: Sep 30, 2011
Eligible Entities: Individuals, state, local and Indian tribal governments. Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, and international or foreign organizations or governments.
 
The NOAA FY 2010-FY2011 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) requests proposals for special projects and programs associated with NOAA’s strategic plan and mission goals, as well as to provide the public with information and guidelines on how NOAA will select proposals and administer discretionary federal assistance under this BAA. This BAA is a mechanism to encourage research, education and outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that are not addressed through NOAA’s competitive discretionary programs. Funding for potential projects in this notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2010, Fiscal Year 2011 and Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations. Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for any proposed activities in this notice. For more information, visit http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=L9nbTqxF2TYLQLdTypyqNnVsxpyNDXKnMWv5QJXQqF256Btmvqs4!1090492312?oppId=51101&mode=VIEW.
 
*** HUD’s Energy Innovation Fund – Multifamily Pilot Program – $25 million
Application Due: October 20, 2011
Eligible Entities: National, regional or local private or non-profit entities currently administering affordable housing development and rehabilitation programs; special purpose financing entities; nonprofit or for-profit organizations that own or control a portfolio of Eligible Multifamily Properties
 
HUD’s Office of Affordable Housing Preservation is issuing a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Multifamily Energy Innovation Fund.  This fund provides a total of $25 million in grants to be used for the purpose of energy efficiency upgrades at multifamily properties. The overall objective of the Energy Innovation Fund is to help catalyze a home energy retrofit market in the United States by accelerating private investment in cost-saving energy efficiency retrofits in the residential sector.  The Energy Innovation NOFA can be found at:       
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpeif.cfm.
 
*** EPA FY 2012 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program – $10 million
Application Due: November 4, 2011
Eligible Entities: State and local governments, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribes, others
 
EPA, states, tribes, and territories are working together to implement the Exchange Network, a secure, Internet- and standards-based way to support electronic data reporting, sharing, and integration of both regulatory and non-regulatory environmental data. The Exchange Network Grant Program provides funding to states, tribes, inter-tribal consortia, and territories to develop and implement the information technology and information management capabilities they need to actively participate in the Exchange Network. This grant program supports the exchange of environmental data and collaborative work within the Exchange Network. Grantees may also use grant funds for the standardization, exchange and integration of geospatial information to support work to preserve and improve the environment, natural resources, and human health. In FY 2012, EPA expects to award about $10,000,000 for 40 to 50 grants of up to $350,000. The exact number of grants will depend on the final amount of EPA’s appropriation for the grant program, the number of applications submitted to EPA by the application deadline, the amounts of proposed budgets, and the outcome of application reviews. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/grants/index.html.
 
*** HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program Advance Notice – $67 million
HUD has released advance notice of funding for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. This program supports metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments in a manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the interdependent challenges of economic competitiveness and revitalization; (social equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity; energy use and climate change; and public health and environmental impact. HUD is not yet receiving preapplications or applications. Specific questions regarding program requirements should be directed to sustainablecommunities@hud.gov or through www.hud.gov/sustainability. To download the advance notice of requirements, visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=ascrp01nofa.pdf.
 
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EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program LogoState and local officials interested in additional information about developing and implementing cost-effective climate and energy strategies that help further environmental goals and achieve public health and economic benefits may visit: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced 16 projects supporting activities in 24 states and the District of Columbia to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in communities across the nation, and seven additional projects in seven states to help prepare college students for careers designing and building advanced vehicle technologies.

“By developing the next generation of automotive engineers and preparing communities for plug-in electric vehicles, these projects will help reduce our nation’s dependence on oil imports, create jobs, and help America capture the growing global market for advanced vehicles,” said Secretary Chu.

Clean Cities Initiative Awards $8.5 million

Projects to support community planning for plug-in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure will receive $8.5 million through DOE’s Clean Cities initiative to facilitate local public-private partnerships that will develop EV deployment strategies. The funding recipients range from communities with extensive EV planning experience to those that are eager to begin, but have not previously had the resources to do so. These one-year projects will help communities address their specific needs, which include updating permitting processes, revising codes, training municipal personnel, promoting public awareness, or developing incentives, and each will create a plan that will be publicly available so that other stakeholders can learn best practices.

To view a map of the award locations and read the full list of Clean Cities’ award winners, visit HERE

The Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Initiative Awards $6.4 million

DOE’s Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) initiative will award $6.4 million over the course of five years to support seven Centers of Excellence at American colleges, universities, and university-affiliated research institutions. The awardees will focus on three critical automotive technology areas: hybrid propulsion, energy storage, and lightweight materials. By funding curriculum development and expansion as well as laboratory work, GATE allows higher education institutions to develop multidisciplinary training. As a result, GATE promotes the development of a skilled workforce of engineering professionals who will overcome technical barriers and help commercialize the next generation of advanced automotive technologies.

To view a map of the award locations and read the full list of GATE award winners, visit HERE

DOE announced the availability of funding for these projects in February and April 2011. DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Visit EERE's Clean Cities and GATE websites for more information on the work being done under these initiatives to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. In addition to EV infrastructure planning, Clean Cities supports a broad portfolio of technologies, including alternative and renewable fuels, fuel economy measures, idle reduction technologies, and emerging technologies. Since its inception in 1993, Clean Cities and its stakeholders have decreased the equivalent use of more than three billion gallons of gasoline.

News Media Contact: 202-586-4940

America’s cities are confronting climate change. They are also saving money.

THERE are many places in Illinois where you expect to find a prairie. The roof of City Hall in Chicago is not among them. Yet there it is—20,000 square feet (almost half an acre) of shrubs, vines and small trees, 11 storeys above LaSalle Avenue. Planted in 2000, City Hall’s “green roof” reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the building in the summer; captures water during rainstorms, thus reducing the amount of water flowing into Chicago’s already overtaxed sewers; and combats the urban “heat island” effect, which makes cities warmer than nearby rural areas. On average, air temperatures above City Hall are 10-15°F degrees lower than those above the adjacent black-tar roof of the Cook County Building; on hot summer days the difference can be as great as 50°F.

Large as it is, City Hall’s roof accounts for a small proportion of Chicago’s total green-roof space. And those roofs are just one part of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan (CCAP), which was launched in September 2008 and was preceded by years of green initiatives during the tenure of Richard Daley, who from 1989 until earlier this year was mayor of Chicago. CCAP aims to reduce Chicago’s greenhouse-gas emissions to 75% of their 1990 levels by 2020, and to just 20% of their 1990 levels by 2050. In the two years after CCAP’s launch public-transport ridership rose, millions of gallons of water were conserved, hundreds of hybrid buses were added to Chicago’s fleet and over 13,000 housing units and nearly 400 commercial buildings were retrofitted for energy efficiency.

In Chula Vista, Calif., new waterfront buildings will be required to have higher foundations because of an expected rise in sea levels.

In Chicago, where flooding is predicted to worsen, residents can get rebates for putting rain barrels, compost bins and native plants in their yards.

And in New York City, where rising tides are also projected, wastewater treatment plants will elevate their pumps.

While some members of Congress debate the scientific validity of climate change, these U.S. cities are going beyond efforts to mitigate it with lower greenhouse gas emissions. They're at the forefront of an emerging trend: adaptation.

"It's a new field," says Brian Holland, director of climate programs at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. His association launched a Climate Resilient Communities program last year to help cities study effects of climate change and finance ways to adapt. Nearly 600 local governments, representing one-fourth of the U.S. population, have signed on.

>> Read the Full Article

*** HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program Advance Notice – $67 million

HUD has released advance notice of funding for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. This program supports metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments in a manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the interdependent challenges of: (1) economic competitiveness and revitalization; (2) social equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity; (3) energy use and climate change; and (4) public health and environmental impact. HUD is not yet receiving preapplications or applications. Specific questions regarding program requirements should be directed to sustainablecommunities@hud.gov or through www.hud.gov/sustainability. To download the advance notice of requirements, visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=ascrp01nofa.pdf

Visit EPA's Sustainable Infrastructure page for local government resources.

Safe, clean drinking water at the turn of a tap. Wastewater removal with a flush. It can be so easy to take these actions, and the underground systems that make them possible, for granted. But those expectations, the strength of local economies, and public health, depend on dedicated support of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems—both today and tomorrow.

A large percentage of this infrastructure has or will reach the end of its useful life in the coming decades, requiring a commitment to rehabilitation and/or replacement. According to the 2005 Survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (35pp, 984K, About PDF) , aging infrastructure was the top water issue for Mayors across the country. New infrastructure built to accommodate community growth will also need to be renewed over time.

Local elected officials and decision makers play a vital role in safeguarding these shared community assets and ensuring their operation over the long term

Explore the following links and make a difference in your community, today!

• Five Things You Should KNOW—an introduction to sustainable infrastructure in your community and the nation, including basic facts, the role that local officials can play, and what it can mean for your community.
• Five Things You Should DO—concrete actions local officials can take toward building greater water infrastructure sustainability in their own communities.

A printable PDF version of these lists is available for download and distribution. (1pp, 744K, About PDF)

To support the local fishing industry, the Volusia County Council has endorsed a plan to double the number of artificial reefs off Volusia County’s coast from 45 to 90 as quickly as possible.

To support the local fishing industry, the Volusia County Council has endorsed a plan to double the number of artificial reefs off Volusia County’s coast from 45 to 90 as quickly as possible. To date, more than 64 artificial reefs have been constructed with the remains of ships, barges, concrete culverts, airplanes, Intra-coastal Waterway bridges, FDOT concrete roadway construction barriers, concrete telephone poles and other large pieces of concrete rubble. Much of the reef material is provided to the county at no charge by concrete pipe and pre-cast manufacturing firms. The artificial reefs are popular destinations for sport, charter and commercial fishing and diving. Funding for the artificial reefs comes from Volusia County’s Port Authority reserves and will not affect property-tax rates.

The county made its first artificial reef in 1980 when it dropped a World War II cargo ship in 85 feet of water about 11 miles northeast of Ponce de Leon Inlet. The objective was to provide nearby artificial reefs to offset increasing pressure on local natural reefs. The reefs immediately create marine habitats close to shore and start growing fish, shrimp and crabs. This supports our regional marine industry by providing easily accessible deep-sea fishing and diving. Now after more than 30 years, it is apparent that the county's 11 federal permitted artificial reef sites are providing the anticipated relief for the natural reefs located farther offshore.

Florida boaters spent $8.5 billion on nearly 21.7 million boat trips and related expenses in 2007 and supported 39,000 jobs in Florida. In Volusia County, more than 30,000 boats represent a $233 million dollar economic impact in 2009. Every $1 spent on building reefs brings $138 in economic impact/returns, according to a recent artificial reef economic analysis conducted in the Florida panhandle.

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Wonder how high the utility bills will be at that apartment you like? To help consumers and spur efficiency, U.S. states and cities are beginning this year to require that commercial buildings measure and disclose their energy use.

The new rules, which generally exempt small businesses, are expected to shame building owners into upgrades that will save energy and create jobs. They're akin to nutritional labels on food, Energy Star ratings on appliances and miles-per-gallon stickers on vehicles. They won't specify utility costs but will show a building's relative efficiency, measured in energy use per square foot for apartments.

>> Read the Full Article

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 26, 2011 – A report released today by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) offers the first-ever national review of building energy rating and disclosure policies in the United States. “Rating and disclosure” refers to the practice of evaluating the relative energy efficiency of a building and making this information known to consumers.

The policies, recently enacted into law by five cities and two states, require large commercial building owners to measure their properties’ energy consumption and reveal that data. By making building energy use and costs more transparent, these laws will encourage building energy improvements and stimulate market demand for energy efficiency.

Building Energy Transparency is the first comprehensive review of building energy rating and disclosure laws in New York City; San Francisco; Seattle; Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; and in the states of California and Washington. The requirements are starting to be phased in this year and will have an enormous impact on American real estate, affecting 4 billion square feet of building space—nearly 3 times the current impact of the LEED rating system. Building

Energy Transparency identifies best practices that help jurisdictions overcome common challenges in implementation: for example, utilities’ energy data can be difficult to access, and many cities lack a complete inventory of building stock. IMT’s report will be an essential road-map for jurisdictions seeking to adopt rating and disclosure policies.

“We are pleased to publish this report at such a significant time in the evolution of U.S. rating and disclosure policies,” said Andrew Burr, director of IMT’s Building Energy Rating Program and the lead author of the report. “As these policies continue to draw interest from states and cities across the country, we can enable policymakers to build on the lessons and best practices from early adopters.”

IMT staff are the leading experts on these policies in the United States. They have worked closely with government officials around the country as they develop and implement rating and disclosure requirements. In November 2010, IMT convened a national roundtable of senior policymakers and building energy efficiency experts to discuss implementation. Building Energy Transparency grew out of this roundtable, which was the first event of its kind in the United States.

In addition to the report, IMT worked with real estate services firm CB Richard Ellis on a compact user’s guide to the requirements, which is also released today. CBRE’s “Guide to State and Local Energy Performance Regulations” can be downloaded at www.cbre.com/USA/Sustainability/Envirometrics.

More than 50 cities, regional governments and nations have enacted rating and disclosure measures to regulate the energy performance of commercial buildings in the past 15 years. In the U.S., five cities and two states have put similar laws on the books in the past five years.

While the U.S. is relatively new to the process, the speed with which regulations are being developed and the federal push to make existing buildings more energy efficient make it likely that more local and regional governments will soon adopt building energy performance requirements.

>> Read the Full Article

Competition Trains the Next Generation of Clean Energy Engineers and Designers

Washington, D.C. - Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is considering offers for a new site for Solar Decathlon 2013. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate students from across the globe to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. For the first time, in an effort to expand the excitement generated by the competition and encourage participation from new communities, the Department is inviting venues across the nation to compete for the opportunity to host this award-winning event. The Solar Decathlon has attracted thousands of people to experience first-hand the benefits of homes that incorporate clean energy technologies, and, as a collegiate competition, supports the Obama Administration's comprehensive efforts to build a 21st century clean energy economy by helping to train the next-generation of American engineers and architects.

"The Solar Decathlon challenges the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to become pioneers of clean energy technology and efficient building design," said Secretary Chu.  "This is a great opportunity for these talented students to showcase cutting edge technologies that will change the way we build homes and save families money."

The Solar Decathlon provides participating students with unique training to enter our Nation's clean energy workforce. As part of the Obama Administration's larger goal to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and maintain a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce, DOE creates and supports initiatives that engage students to learn about energy technologies and issues. The Solar Decathlon is one such workforce development program designed to educate and train university-level students who will build their careers in the clean energy sector. The contest also fosters greater adoption of clean energy technologies and energy efficient construction techniques that help America compete in the global marketplace.

The Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. since 2002.  The competition and public demonstration has been very successful in showcasing energy efficient housing and clean energy technologies in the metropolitan Washington area. The solicitation announced today will allow DOE to consider a new venue to host Solar Decathlon 2013. For more detailed information on the solicitation, click here <https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/>  and search for solicitation number DE-SOL-0003159.

Solar Decathlon 2011 will take place at the National Mall's West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., September 23 through October 2, 2011. This year's competition will be the Department's fifth Solar Decathlon; previous events were held in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2009.  Open to the public free of charge, the Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses and learn about money-saving clean-energy solutions for their own homes.

For more information, please visit www.solardecathlon.gov <http://www.solardecathlon.org

Join a growing network of rural communities taking charge of their own resilience. Build the social capital and capacity you need to make lasting on the ground change. Tap into the latest planning tools to assist your community in adapting to a changing climate.

Apply to the 2012 Climate Solutions University (CSU): Forest and Water Strategies, brought to you by the Model Forest Policy Program. MFPP has a limited number of spaces in the program.

Designed for rural U.S. communities, you'll participate in a step by step process that breaks the challenge of climate planning into manageable pieces. You'll create a locally designed and locally driven plan to adapt to a changing climate, protect its economy, and reduce the impacts from natural disasters.

In the first year, Climate Solutions University's (CSU) online curriculum, webinars, and community calls will guide your stakeholder team through in-depth assessments of the local risks and opportunities related to climate, forest, water, and economic conditions. You'll then analyze and synthesize your findings into a local climate adaptation plan focused on forest and water resource resilience. In year two, you'll receive group and individual support for converting planning into action and change.

Scholarships: Six $10,000 scholarships will be awarded. 

Application Deadline: Application deadline is 5 PM PST on Monday, September 19, 2011.

To apply go to: www.mfpp.org

Fill out the red "Apply Now" form.  Follow the instructions to download and submit an application.

2010 Climate Solutions Communities have taken impressive steps:

• Moab, Utah is building its first regional watershed plan;
• Sumner County and Cookeville, Tennessee added climate change provisions to its County Comprehensive Plan;
• Bonner County, Idaho protected over 1,000 miles of streams with riparian buffers in its land use codes;
• Keene, New Hampshire improved state forest policy;

This Program has been an amazing and incredibly orchestrated environmental mentorship, like none other I have worked with in thirty years of advocacy. The support and expertise has impressed all in our region and at the state level as well. Your constant support, positive attitude and help are nothing short of amazing. ~ T. Sintros, Sustainability Project, New Hampshire

CSU's curriculum is relevant, intentional and well designed. ~ R. Williams, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, New Mexico

Participating communities have stronger public and government support and many have increased funding to support their planning.