Green thinking for a more Sustainable Los Angeles
Read the text of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s “State of the City” speech this week to get a good look at some of the more advanced thinking in the nation’s second largest city.
Here’s some of the text of the speech, outlining a fairly comprehensive action program for local government sustainability, even in the midst of economic setbacks.
“With our Solar L.A. plan, we’re working to cut our carbon footprint and to transform L.A. into a clean energy powerhouse. With the nation’s most far-reaching green building ordinance, we believe we can create America’s most vibrant job site in sustainable construction. And at the Port of Los Angeles, I’m proud to say tonight that we’ve sent 2,000 dirty diesel trucks to the junk yard and replaced them with vehicles that run on natural gas and electricity.
I believe L.A.’s economic future starts right here, in places like Balqon, where the next generation of electric trucks are being designed, tested and manufactured; where we are literally revving up the engines of our Clean Truck Program; where the wheels of a clean, green port are turning; and a new high-tech venture is producing clean fuel vehicles IN L.A., for the betterment of LA.
This facility will serve as the model for our Harbor Clean Tech Center; for investments in the latest vessels for green development; for the San Pedro Bay Port Technology Development Center -– home of green companies serving our port.
A few miles up the 110, we are building a literal “Clean-Tech Corridor.” A business corridor bringing together researchers, designers and manufacturers from around the world dedicated to sustainable solutions and to creating green-collar jobs.
Located just outside of downtown, this corridor will house our Clean Tech Manufacturing Center, a catalyst for smart growth that could create as many as 1,000 high-paying jobs.
It will host our Clean Innovations Research Center, where the world’s leading experts will come together to define future renewable energy sources, water conservation strategies and green building advances.
The Clean Tech Corridor will rest alongside the Cornfields Arroyo Seco – the first and only LEED-pilot neighborhood by any big city in the United States of America. A cluster of pedestrian-friendly streets sitting along public transit lines. A model for future communities where residents walk more, drive less and have access to quality jobs and affordable housing.
This is a unique moment of opportunity. It’s an opportunity to stand at the forefront of the clean-tech revolution; to transform our old industrial core into ground zero for green jobs and sustainability.
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15/2009 at 07:23 PM
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