Assignment 13 - Planning for Sustainability

Article Title: Interest grows for solar plant at city landfill
Date Published: April 16, 2009
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/04/17/20090417biz-solarfolo0417.html

The article is based upon sustainability planning at the local level. Planning at this level primarily consists of city and county government. Wheeler (2004) states that “Cities and counties represent the front lines of planning in that they have primary control over land development, local streets and roads, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, recycling and waste collection….” (p. 152). The city of Buckeye is currently in the process of planning to receive bids from solar companies in order to construct a solar plant on a 1,200 acre plot of land owned by the city of Phoenix. On April 16th a number of concerned citizens gathered in Phoenix City Hall to learn more information on the proposals being set forth to begin this project.

The goal of the solar plant would be to create a renewable energy market in that state of Arizona, and to promote sustainability goals within communities. “It is a sign of the growing interest in Arizona’s renewable-energy market, as solar manufacturers, civil engineers, investors and attorneys showed enthusiasm for the $1 billion [dollar] project, which would be financed and built by the private sector” (AZ Central News Article, April 16 2009). The plant would be able to generate between 150 to 200 megawatts of energy, which would be “enough to power 50,000 homes at once” (AZ Central News Article, April 16 2009). This would serve as a vast improvement to the current measure of energy utilized in Arizona homes. Therefore, the solar plant would have broader sustainability implications and energy conservation than for the city of Buckeye; it would serve to power a number of homes within the state.

The stimulus package proposed by President Obama will cover this renewable energy’s project of up to 30% of their construction costs. However, in order for this plan to take effect, construction must begin by December of next year. The city would like for the plant to be in operation for 20 years, but is also entertaining the proposal to have the lifespan of the plan extended to 25 to 30 years.

This sustainability issue could also be addressed at the state level. In order to produce further systemic changes, it may be less complicated to begin at the local level and then broaden the focus to state and federal levels. The land for the solar plant that will be built in Buckeye belongs to the city of Phoenix, and currently has the input of many city officials from both cities to ensure the smooth operation of the plant. The state of Arizona could also begin planning for other solar plants in local cities to promote and advance the current energy conservation system.

A few of the difficulties of attempting to initiate a number of energy conservation programs at one time is the cost associated with planning and production, as well as not having an opportunity to find out the effectiveness of existing projects. The state may desire to wait until the opening of the solar plant location in Buckeye prior to opening another facility. Though environmental quality may improve as a result of these solar projects, there may be difficulty in gaining the support of community members to support them without first having an example of a successful program. It would be important for both local officials and community members to sponsor such projects, and be instrumental in their implementation. Wheeler (2004) states, “Enlightened local officials and residents can and should be at the forefront of efforts to create more livable communities, preserve or restore elements of local ecosystems, and improve social equality and human well-being” (p. 182). Thus, it is important for community members and officials to have an integral focus upon restoration of ecosystems and sustaining the environment.

Assignment 12 - Tools for Sustainability Planning

Article: Sustainable Food Packaging Grows Despite Economy
Source: Environmental Leader
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/04/08/sustainable-food-packaging-grows-despite-economy/
(published on April 8, 2009)

The article highlighted the ways and measures that sustainability is used with relation to recyclable products and packaging. It analyzed the current challenges with sustainability as well as the incremental progress that has been made since the late 1990s. The article notes that while the economy is suffering and enduring difficult times, the amount of products that have been recycled is notable. The reports that were generated for this analysis based their research on items such as: paper, plastic, metal, glass and flexible packaging. The focus of the article was based on sustainability indicators, which was noted in chapter 6 of Wheeler’s text. Wheeler states (2004), “One widespread initiative within sustainability planning has been the development of indicators that track progress towards sustainable development” (p. 91). The article addresses this concept in discussing the progress that has been made from the 1990s until 2009. Improvements and development were also indicated to give further understanding to the impact that retailers and corporations have had on sustainability.

The economy has had some impact on the recycling prices that retailers, food and beverage companies receive in return for their products. It was noted that mixed paper and cardboard prices declined from $105 a ton to $25 per ton; plastic bottles that were once worth 25 cents a pound decreased to 2 cents per pound, and aluminum can pricing that once was at 80 cents per pound fell to 40 cents. Thus some of the recyclable products fell in price as much as 90 percent of their previous worth. It is estimated that “the world market for food and beverage packaging is about $310 billion with the US, Europe and Asia accounting for 90 percent” (Environmental Leader, Article, 4-9-2009).

Retail leaders such as Wal-Mart were mentioned for the sustainability initiatives and plans made to make their corporations more green. Their current efforts should aid the company in reducing their overall packaging by about 5% by the year 2013, and will save in shipping costs and carbon emissions. A packaging scorecard was introduced within their corporation in 2007 in order to rate their global suppliers according to their green practices; this aids in guiding Wal-Mart determine whom they will purchase and buy from in the future.

The article noted that paper and corrugated comprised of 83 million tons of solid waste, and currently makes us 33% of America’s municipal solid waste. The United States exported $2.6 billion in recovered paper materials in the year of 2008, which shows an increase of 18% since 2004. Aluminum product was stated to require 95% less energy when recycled than that of production from raw materials. At the current time, 54% of aluminum products are being recycled. These figures are based upon reports from the Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers Association and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

Plans for recycling products such as glass and plastic were indicated, along with some of the common uses for the recycled items. The North American Insulation Manufacturer’s Association noted that about 300,000 tons of recycled glass annually is used to produce thermal and acoustical insulation. Glass is a product that is able to be reused a number of times prior to recycling. Plastic has a number of functions that were broken down into various uses, and were ordered according to resin type (i.e. PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and PS). Common reuses were using the items for, drainage and irrigation pipes, paneling, grocery bags, rakes, buckets, car battery casings, pet containers, luggage, furniture, take out containers and trashcans. The modern uses of these products shed light on the increasing need to recycle the products in promoting sustainability. “Despite the challenges, the nearly $35 billion U.S. market for food and beverage packaging has ample opportunities for growth in sustainable packaging options…” (Environmental Leader, Article, 4-9-2009). Wheeler (2004) notes that “Indicators potentially have great power to demonstrate problems, motivate action, educate the public and show the positive effect of sustainability policies” (p. 92). Thus, the indicators mentioned within this article regarding sustainability have been a way to track the progress that has occurred over time and directives for future advancement. The positive impact of the sustainability process has been explored, as well as the incremental impact that corporations have on sustainability.



Article: Sustainability a growing movement at colleges, and universities across Canada.
Source: Canadian Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h2LRMwKrDVzdaZvx6y4nYNvdSBeg
(published on April 9, 2009)

This writer was interested in the way that college campuses have evolved over time and their commitment to sustainability. Arizona State University is one of several universities in the United States that has shown forth their commitment to sustainability in various ways to ensure that continued research and study has been put forth in this area of examination. This writer wanted to compare the current trends that are taking place within Canadian universities to the universities within the United States.

The article notes that there has been an increase in concern for the environment at universities across Canada with a specific emphasis on sustainability. Students are becoming more exposed to the ideas and concepts associated with becoming green and developing technology that focuses on the environment. The article focuses on students who have a desire to go into environmental building and construction. The Dean at Georgian College in Canada stated that “to achieve sustainability students must be taught to incorporate it into every step of the building design and construction process”. Another statement was that “true sustainability in construction, engineering and energy isn’t going to come about by just dedicating one program to it – it’s about a way of thinking” (Canadian Press Article, April 9 2009).

The University of British Columbia has also incorporated a campus wide “sustainable environment” that has been noted to not only be applicable to academic programs. At the UBC, students are required to obtain a bus pas in order to conserve and food services on campus are currently utilizing bridgeable products when serving students. The article accounts for a number of graduates who have begun their own private sustainable building companies, along with others who have taken their current knowledge of sustainability into their place of business.

When researching for this article, this writer was able to find a number of articles on the strides that ASU is currently making in the area of sustainability and the knowledge that they desire to pass onto their students. This article focuses upon the subject group of Education, Communication and Census-Building which Wheeler (2004) addressed in chapter 6 of his writings. Wheeler noted that this process included “the whole range of activities that make up Friedmann’s social learning – action oriented practice, education, group decision making and cognitive growth” (p. 100). This process was highlighted within the article, as students are in the process of educating their communities about sustainability and decision making that is centered on conservation of the environment and it’s resources. Students are also engaged in another subject group identified by Wheeler (2004), which is: Organizing and Coalition-building. Students have found creative ways of discussing their ideas with the press in order to gain the attention of politicians who can produce further development in the area of sustainability. Wheeler noted that, “key challenges for these organizations are to figure out creative ways of gaining local press attention, gaining access to politicians, and maintaining a consistent presence over time”(p. 101). By continuing to build coalitions with those in the community and various environmental organizations, students have the ability to bring attention to the issues impacting their communities as a whole and thereby further educate the public.

Week 11: General Questions Response

1. How do you believe sustainability should be defined for policy making?

Wheeler (2004) offers a number of definitions within his readings for sustainability that focused upon a number of specific sub-areas. His own personal definition of sustainability was, “development that improves the long-term health of human and ecological systems” (p. 24). A classification that would be effective in the forum of policy making would need to focus on the impact that sustainability would have on the current community as well as the impact on future generations. It would be important to consider all aspects of community when defining sustainability for policy making, as policy makers are a representation of the communities/towns/cities that they serve. A definition that was noted within Wheeler’s readings that would be effective to meet this goal was authored by the Brundtland Commission (1987), “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (p. 24). This definition would encompass the prospective goal of a policy maker and thereby preserve the needs of the community as a whole.

2. What are the difficulties associated with making sustainability a policy goal?
The difficulties that are associated with making sustainability as a goal revolves around what constituents perceive as the current impending needs of the time. It takes a great degree of skill for policy makers to educate the public of the need to implement sustainability within their communities. Wheeler notes the importance of planners aligning with the government in order to facilitate change. Planners can serve as an aide to policy makers and encourage legislation and public participation in achieving and obtaining set goals. Citizens may have some resistance in supporting sustainability goals that do not have immediate advantages; therefore it is important to unify policy makers and citizens to elicit their participation into the process. Goodnow (1995) states, public choice governs the rate at which society elects to approach environmental sustainability voluntarily and purposefully, or, as at present to recede from it” (p. 20). Wheeler (2004) states, “Plans are only effective if they are implemented, inspire action, or otherwise help bring about changes in the world. Whether this happens depends in large part on whether those with power buy into the planning processes, learn new ways of looking at the world, or come to see their own interests as dependent on change” (p. 51). Thus, the goal is obtainable, but will take the involvement of citizens and various sectors of government.


3. If you had to design a practical framework to help a state environmental agency (e.g. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality) achieve ecological, economic and social sustainability, what would the framework look like? For example, how would you include citizens? How would you include experts? Which experts would you include?
In order to obtain a practical framework for a state environmental agency, it would be necessary to include the involvement of government officials, citizens and experts within the field. This principle is built upon the planning process addressed by Wheeler (2004) when noting how to formulate a team composed of a variety of participants. In order to begin the process, it would be necessary to ensure that citizen support is maintained; citizens could serve as board members and as those who are influential in propelling the grassroots component of various projects. The government would be influential in recruiting experts within the field to assist in research projects and designs to further scientific understanding of sustainability and ways of practical implementation. It would also be necessary to evaluate the programs that have been set in place by other countries as a way to measure future effectiveness.

4. Voters and politicians often want short term results, but many argue that sustainable development calls for long-term policy plan. How do we take the long term view that sustainable development requires in this political environment?
Solow (1991) makes reference to the dual connection between environmental issues and sustainability stating, “The environment needs protection by public policy because each of us knows that by burdening the environment, by damaging it, we can profit and have some of the cost, perhaps most of the cost, borne by others. Sustainability is a problem precisely because each of us knows or realizes that we can profit at the expense of the future rather than at the expense of our cotemporaries and environment” (p. 183). Therefore it is necessary to take measures to preserve the environment, as there is a potential for abusing the current resources that are in place. Public policy and regulation is one measure to ensure that resources are well maintained and preserved for future generations. This requires policy makers and citizens to have a long term view in mind when evaluating the necessity for limits in the usage of resources. At times, it is difficult for the public to understand the implications of current actions if there has been no education nor attention brought to the subject matter. Thus it would be important to have an approach that considers the future. Wheeler (2004) states, “Must longer perspectives are needed that take into account human and ecological well being 50, 100, or 200 years from now – during future generations…” (p. 35). Thus, those who are policy makers and concerned citizens could aid in educating the public on assessing how current actions can lead to long term consequences.