Plan is a roadmap for San José to become the world’s Center of Innovation for clean technologies
SAN JOSE – Mayor Chuck Reed today released his Green Vision for San José, an ambitious and comprehensive 15-year plan to solve environmental problems and grow the local economy. Focused around three elements – Clean Tech Innovation, Sustainability, and Green Mobility – San Jose’s Green Vision is a roadmap for the City to become the world’s center of Clean Tech innovation.
“The people of San José and Silicon Valley have changed the world,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “With our history of innovation and environmental stewardship as a foundation, San José will become the world’s center of innovation in clean, green technologies. Our goals for innovation, sustainability, and green mobility are bold and comprehensive. I believe that in 15 years, we can succeed and build a better future for our children, our residents, and the world.”
The plan outlines 10 far-reaching goals that address energy consumption, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental impacts. The goals are:
1. Create 25,000 Clean Tech jobs as the World Center of Clean Tech Innovation
2. Reduce per capita energy use by 50 percent
3. Receive 100 percent of our electrical power from clean renewable sources
4. Build or retrofit 50 million square feet of green buildings
5. Divert 100 percent of the waste from our landfill and convert waste to energy
6. Recycle or beneficially reuse 100 percent of our wastewater (100 million gallons per day)
7. Adopt a General Plan with measurable standards for sustainable development
8. Ensure that 100 percent of public fleet vehicles run on alternative fuels
9. Plant 100,000 new trees and replace 100 percent of our streetlights with smart, zeroemission lighting
10. Create 100 miles of interconnected trails
San José, the nation’s tenth largest city, already is a leader in solar technology innovation, with leading corporations such as SunPower, Nanosolar, Akeena Solar, Fat Spaniel, and others headquartered here. Increasing jobs based in San José and growing the local economy has been a key platform of Mayor Reed’s efforts to solve the City’s ongoing structural budget deficit.
“With a focus on creating Clean Tech jobs, we will help solve the climate crisis while creating a new economic base for our region,” Mayor Reed said. “San José will show the world that environmental responsibility makes financial sense. Not only will we help our innovators create new businesses and new jobs, we will use these technologies to reduce the City’s own operating and maintenance costs.”
Installing solar on city buildings and retrofitting facilities to be more green and efficient are among the strategies to save municipal costs. The City Council earlier this year adopted some of the nation’s most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for municipal operations. The City has set a goal that all new municipal facilities be built to achieve LEED-gold certification. One of the first communities in the nation to develop curbside recycling, San José leads the nation in diverting waste from its landfills. “As we have in the past, San José can do the research and development necessary to show the cities of the world how to become clean and green,” Mayor Reed said. “Over the next 15 years, we can cut our per capita electricity usage in half and get 100 percent of our electrical power from clean renewable sources. We will demonstrate that energy efficiency saves money and is worth the upfront investment.”
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For Immediate Release:
Press Release - Office of Mayor Chuck Reed
Mayor Reed Launches San José’s Green Vision to Improve Environment and Develop Jobs
October 5, 2007
Contact: Michelle McGurk, PIO
Office of Mayor Chuck Reed
(408) 535-4840 or (408) 655-7332 cell
