mayor gordon’s
by eric sells
Green Phoenix
C
hampioning the environment
broad vision can be seen in the new
and sustainability stems from
Green Rail Corridor project. The
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s
city, in partnership with ASU, plans
desire to maintain and enhance the
to transform a 10-mile portion of the
city’s livability.
light rail into an entire environmen-
“Phoenix was a great place for
tally friendly zone.
my parents to raise children, and
“In the central part of Phoenix,
I want to ensure that everyone’s
light rail has brought prosperity and
children can experience that same
growth – it’s one of the areas that’s
greatness,” said Mayor Gordon. “The
weathered the economic downturn
challenge is how do we maintain that,
the best,” said the mayor.
coupled with the fact that we are a
Implementing the proposed
growing city, using more resources
Green Rail Corridor initiative will
and things are getting more expensive,
mean installation of six to eight
without any adverse effects.”
additional solar panels on existing
To address this challenge, earlier
city facilities; new energy audits of
this year he proposed “Green Phoe-
city facilities and implementation of
nix,” a bold 17-point plan to transform
“In the central part of Phoenix,
recommended improvements; high-
Phoenix into the first carbon-neutral
efficiency lighting will help convert
and most sustainable city in the
light rail has brought prosper- the city’s traffic signals to LED technol-
country. This initiative is expected
ity and growth — it’s one of the
ogy; and implementation of rainwater
to produce thousands of new jobs
recapture on city facilities will support
in green industries, including home
areas that’s weathered the landscape irrigation. More than 1,000
weatherization, solar-related projects
economic downturn the best.”
homes will be weatherized to increase
and manufacturing. It has been en-
energy efficiency and reduce utility
dorsed by Steven Chu, the Secretary of
bills for low-income residents.
the U.S. Department of Energy.
In addition to the Green Phoenix
To assist in funding, the mayor
energy. It will also provide Phoenix initiative, the mayor is also counting
has worked extensively with U.S.
homeowners and businesses access to on all residents to contribute. Whether
governmental officials to obtain fed-
lower-cost weatherization resources, it’s taking light rail downtown to have
eral stimulus. So far, he has secured
energy-saving retrofits, along with dinner and see a ball game, or simply
$248 million since January, plus an
advancements in solar technology. changing incandescent light bulbs
additional $18 million in loans. The
A number of metrics have been to CFL, using a proper amount of
money will help support new projects,
identified to measure the success of insulation in the home and caulking
which in turn creates jobs and builds
Green Phoenix. For example, cut windows, he said these actions col-
assets.
carbon dioxide emissions by 430,000 lectively can make a big difference to
Green Phoenix covers a wide
metric tons per year and increase solar the city’s future.
range of projects, including build-
energy capacity to 250 megawatts,
ing on existing projects for lessening
among a long list of milestones to be To read more about Mayor Gordon’s
the heat island effect, conserving
attained. Green Phoenix plan, visit
Phoenix.gov/
water, and expanding the use of solar
One example of the mayor’s greenphoenix.
October 2009 31
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