Clean Cities Program
Posted on July 10th, 2010 by Nick
When you hear of the Clean Cities Program, what comes to your mind? How about seeing trash in-the-trash-can, less smog, or politicians behaving?
The last idea is a work in progress but we are not too far away from recycling and air quality.
Let’s start with what the Clean Cities Program is really about. It is a national program sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). Furthermore, it is a government-industry partnership of about 90 entities (public, private, and non-profit) designed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.
Clean Cities Program
Clean Cities purpose is to contribute to the energy, environmental, and economic security of the United States by focusing on the local level policies. You may find a program at your state level or by geographic region. Established in 1993 under the Clinton Administration as a response to the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), the purpose was to provide resources for voluntary, community-centered programs to reduce consumption of petroleum-based fuels. Let’s now look at what Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland are doing or have done with respect to the program. In addition we will discuss how their program can assist you. If you are located outside there territories, visit the US Department of Energy Clean Cities Program to locate your Clean Cities chapter.
Washington DC:
The District of Columbia’s, clean cities office is called the Office of the Clean City. It serves as one of the mayor’s (as of 2010, Adrian Fenty) initiative focused on the following:
a. assesses and evaluates the cleanliness of the entire city, using citizen-volunteer rating teams.
b. implements process improvement methodologies in the form of laws and policies to protect public places.
c. advocates for the full implementation of laws passed by the DC Council that have a positive impact aligned with national environmental initiatives.
d. partners and work with local organizations and individuals to help clean the city. These organizations include working with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), civic associations, concerned citizens, and private sector entities.
e. A clean city coordinator is assigned the task of attending a variety of ANCs, community, and civic association meetings, and schedules speaking engagements with residents about the Clean City initiatives. These meetings may include encouraging and supporting the development of programs to educate children on safety, sanitation “Do’s and Don’ts,” and litter prevention. The coordinator also works closely with the new “Keep Washington DC Beautiful” affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, (KAB) Inc. One of the projects sponsored by the Keep Washington DC Beautiful affiliate chapter of KAB was a Clean City Summit.
For more information on the District of Columbia’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Mail:
Office of the Clean City Coordinator
Government of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 221
Washington, DC 20004
Email:CleanCity@dc.gov
Website: http://www.cleancity.dc.govMaryland:
The Maryland Energy Administration coordinates the Maryland Clean Cities Coalition (MCCC) program. The MCCC aligns themselves with the US Department of Energy. Their program work to increase the use of fuel blends, accelerate sales of hybrid vehicles, promote informed consumer choice on fuel economy, and encourage the use of reduction technologies for heavy duty trucks, vehicles, and equipment.
For more information on Maryland’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Contact Name: Chris Rice
Email: crice@energy.state.md.us
Website: http://www.energy.state.md.us/incentives/transportation/cleancities/index.aspVirginia:
The Clean Cities program of Virginia has a branch in Hampton, VA. Hampton Roads was recognized as a Clean Cities Coalition by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1996. In 2001, the non-profit Virginia Clean Cities, Inc. was created to manage the Coalition. In 2009, Virginia Clean Cities formed a partnership with James Madison University enabling both organizations to leverage resources, current initiatives, and future opportunities. Virginia Clean Cities has an office at James Madison University, and serves as a cornerstone program in the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER).
Virginia Clean Cities work with local communities to provide resources and information on cleaner transportation alternatives. They encourage residents to get involved and participate in their events such as the ‘Virginia Get Ready – Electric Vehicle,’ a presentation style event geared with the Rocky Mountain Institute and several other vehicle manufacturers.
For more information on Maryland’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Mail:
701 Carrier Drive MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(504) 568-8896
E-mail: info@hrccc.org
Website: http://www.hrccc.org/Sobuka connects green-minded people to green contractors for solar, wind, energy efficiency audits, and green remodeling. To find a contractor in your area, go to our homepage and perform a zip code search. Be part of the solution.
Tags: Adrian Fenty, Clean Cities Program, District of Columbia, Hampton, US Department of Energy, Virginia, Washington DC
This entry was posted on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 1:19 pm and is filed under Environment, Featured Content. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
what's your city doing?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), lighting represents 40% of the average commercial building’s electric bill, followed by motors/HVAC at 40% combined and other equipment at 20%, and etc. If one is interested in EPAct, this statement from the U.S. Department of Energy can be a good start to apply 16⅔% energy and power cost savings so that it can qualify as a partially qualifying property according to the EPAct qualifying property table and likewise this kind of projects will definitely help in joining the clean city programs of the government. Though some had made the most of EPAct most of the managements are still left in the dark when it comes to a topic like this. If one want to know more and is serious in availing the EPAct tax, kindly check out the EPAct2005 information resource at www.EPAct2005.org.
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