We should proclaim this the Summer of Sustainability in Fayetteville. We have received a very prestigious award; we are hosting an international conference on climate change; we are already seeing evidence of energy savings resulting from minor behavior modifications among city employees and major changes such as the transition to bio-diesel.

Fayetteville is charting a course to become a truly sustainable city. When John Coleman came on board in May as the new sustainability coordinator - the first position of its kind in the state of Arkansas - I knew that the City would begin to make real progress in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint as an organization, minimize our impact on climate change, and become a role model for other cities, organizations, and individuals looking to implement more sustainable practices. I just didn’t know we would make so much progress so quickly, and I never expected us to receive the national and international recognition as a leader in the sustainability movement. Many of you may already know that last month as I was attending the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA, the City of Fayetteville was honored with a significant award: the City won first place in the small cities category for the very first Mayors’ Climate Protection Award sponsored by the USCM and Wal-Mart. (more…)