Staunton Green 2020

A big, hearty thanks to Staunton City Council! Last night they showed leadership and foresight by agreeing to establish a Green Task Force/Green Commission (name TBD).

This means our city will have one point person/group who will work with local grassroots organizations (such as SG2020 volunteers) to measure our carbon output, make recommendations on changes that can save the city and its residents energy and money, and look for green jobs and other opportunities ahead of the curve.

Below is a copy of our short presentation if you’d like to see what we shared.

A big thanks, too, to all the people here in Staunton who signed our online and paper petition. It was tangible proof there are many here who are committed to seeing positive environmental changes happen right here. Your support made the difference.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. Together with the city we need your minds, talents, and volunteering efforts. Now is a great time to get involved; please contact us at stauntongreen AT gmail.com to see what you can do to keep moving in a positive direction.

Thanks again, Staunton City Council!

As non-partisan citizen action group we feel it’s important to be transparent and share our mission, goals, and objectives with you.

Please review. We invite you to join us. 

Staunton Green 2020

Mission, Goals and Objectives

June 5, 2009  

Vision

Bringing the Green economy and sustainable living to every Queen City resident. 

Mission

We assist the city of Staunton and its residents in reducing carbon emissions by 20% and increasing renewable energy sources by 20% by 2020.  

Goals

1. Work with the city to employ carbon reduction strategies that create economic opportunities and reduce taxpayer obligations (e.g. “weatherization for all campaign” that employs the unemployed; energy conservation programs).
2. Develop education efforts that provide city residents information and action steps to work in a coordinated fashion toward carbon neutrality.
3. Support individual, commercial, non-profit and city efforts that are socially responsible and lead to increased use of renewable energy and decreased use of fossil fuels.

 Initial Objective

Support the City Council in creating a Green Economy Commission that will accomplish the following:  

1. Join ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (www.icleiusa.org) to get the tools, support and strategies for reducing our carbon footprint.
2. Plan and conduct a source inventory of Staunton’s greenhouse gas emissions within six months of establishing the Commission.
3. Recommend and propose a 20% reduction in carbon emissions from 2008 levels for the year 2020 within one year of establishing the Commission.
4. Recommend and propose methods for generating local renewable energy (e.g. switch grass, water turbines, geothermal, solar, etc.).
5. Investigate the development of a Clean Energy Financing Program to make affordable, and create incentives, for homeowners and businesses to install energy efficient appliances and clean energy generators.
6. Promote Green entrepreneurship and seek ways to create sustainable Green jobs within the city as well as reduce municipal, residential and commercial energy bills.

The Commission will consist of a diverse group of residents committed to timely accomplishment of these goals and objectives.  

Secondary Objectives:

1. Create Staunton Green 2020 subcommittees that promote:

• Municipal, commercial and residential solutions
• Incentives that lead to the adoption of practices
• Funding support through grants, relief through taxpayer savings and economic benefits

The subcommittees will address the following: 
 
Education and Outreach Bruce and Gena

• Public awareness
• School involvement
• Action learning
• programs

Energy Conservation 

• Energy audits
• Rain barrels
• Green retrofit
• LEED/Earthcraft

 Waste Reduction Brian and Gena

• Recycling
• Composting
• Plastic reduction
• Improved “to go” containers
• Styrofoam reduction

Green Business Entrepreneurship Brian, Chris & Katie  

Clean Energy generation

• Geothermal
• Solar
• Water turbines
• Switch grass

Local Food & Agricultural Outreach Brian and Katie

• Farmer’s Market
• Garden programs
• Community Supported Agriculture
• Restaurants
• Grocery Stores

 
Sustainable Land Use and Redevelopment Chris & Bruce

• Alternative transportation
• Comprehensive plan and urban development
• Storm water run-off
• Reforestation
• Native grasses and flowers

 
 

1. Collaborate with governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and businesses, such as the following, to accomplish these goals:

• Augusta Farm Co-op
• Belle Grae Growing Center
• Blue Ridge Community College
• Central Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Pedestrian Committee
• Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Historic Staunton Foundation
• Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee
• Mary Baldwin College
• Staunton Creative Community Fund
• Staunton Downtown Development Association
• Staunton Earth Day Planning Committee
• Valley Conservation Council

 
 
Definitions

Carbon Neutral:

The process of offsetting carbon-producing activities with those that either reduce or capture carbon, thus neutralizing the net amount of carbon released in the atmosphere¹. While the United States accounts for only 5% of the world’s population, it accounts for 20% of global energy usage and 20% of global CO2 emissions ². 

Carbon or Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Direct greenhouse gas emissions can include tailpipe emissions of CO² from motor vehicles, methane from landfills, and hydrofluorocarbons from leaking refrigeration or air conditioning equipment. Indirect greenhouse gas emissions arise from coal and other fossil fuel-based energy generated to power residential, commercial, and industrial activities. Indirect emissions also arise from fossil fuel combustion used in the manufacture, transport, storage, disposal, and recycling of commodities and manufactured products³.  

The scientific consensus is that society must reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by at least 80% by mid-century at the latest, in order to avert the worst impacts of global warming and to reestablish the more stable climatic conditions that have made human progress over the last 10,000 years possible⁴.  

Renewable Energy:

Energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are naturally replenished⁵.  

Sustainability:

The World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) articulated: “[to meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” ⁶ 
 

1. http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com/c/climate_neutral.php
2. http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/documents/Green%20Jobs%20FINAL.pdf
3. http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com/c/carbon_footprint.php
4. http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/faq.php
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
6. http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/42/ares42-187.htm

What Is It: A petition to create a Green Task Force for the city of Staunton, Virginia. Sign the petition online by clicking here or sign on paper at locations around the city. (Do you have a petition people can sign? Are you willing to distribute the petition? Contact us and/or add your location in the comments.)

Why It’s Vital: All cities have limited budgets and personnel. We must show Staunton city officials that we’re serious about setting and reaching specific environmental and economic goals. We need the city’s assistance to collect information necessary to determine our starting point.

How It Helps You: Our non-partisan Green Task Force will volunteer time on the Staunton City Council. We’ll research our baseline and make recommendations for specific actions that will reduce Staunton’s carbon emissions, save the city money, and bring more green jobs and federal/state money to Staunton.

How It Helps Staunton: Staunton will benefit from a dedicated team of unpaid, non-partisan volunteers that comprise the Green Task Force. These individuals will work to improve the economic development and environmental sustainability of Staunton to ensure our city becomes an even better place to live and work.

This is a simple action step, and it depends on you! Please sign our petition right now.