Green Phoenix
During his State of the City address, Mayor Gordon described a plan to make Phoenix the first carbon neutral and sustainable city in America. The plan, Green Phoenix, received a prominent endorsement from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, Steven Chu, after Arizona State University President Dr. Michael Crow and Mayor Gordon shared the plan with the Secretary during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
Building on existing initiatives to reduce the heat island effect, conserve precious water resources, and increase the use of solar power, Green Phoenix will provide homeowners and businesses access to affordable weatherization resources, energy-saving retrofits, and the latest in solar technology. Large-scale rainwater capture, groundwater recharge, and riparian restoration will result in improved water quality and stabilized water supplies.
Green Phoenix will mean the creation of thousands of jobs in green industries, ranging from home weatherization to solar panel research and manufacturing. Phoenix residents will experience lower utility bills, better air quality, a greener environment, and a smaller carbon footprint for the region.
Partners for the project include the City of Phoenix, Arizona State University, Valley Forward, major utilities Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, and industry leaders First Solar and BrightSource. The proposal envisions an integrated partnership with a variety of federal agencies, including the Departments of Energy, Commerce, and Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Transit Administration, Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation.
