North Port's “Green” Transformation

The Cold Truth

All over the world, nations and individuals are coming to the sobering realization that overuse of the earth’s resources is accelerating at an unsustainable pace. An overwhelming majority of scientists now believe that burning of fossil fuels and introduction of other harmful chemicals into the atmosphere is responsible for a worldwide climate and environmental crisis that may soon become an irreversible catastrophe for our species – unless we all commit to abandoning our harmful ways now.

Installing rooftop solar collectors at new Fire Station #82, one of the City's "greenest" buildings:
The sun heats water for the station, which is piped to storage tanks. On rare occasions when
solar radiation is insufficient, an electric backup system heats the water to a pre-set temperature.

The Feed-in Tariff and the Renewable Portfolio Standard:
2 Ways to Encourage Alternative Energy Production

On Nov. 9, 2009, the North Port City Commission passed Resolution No. 09-R-71, which expresses the City’s support for two renewable energy proposals that the Florida State Legislature will be debating: a “Feed-in Tariff” and the establishment of a “Renewable Portfolio Standard.”

The Resolution states that these proposals will:
• establish a commitment to the implementation of renewable and alternative energy;
• provide the framework for expanded opportunities and job creation in the field of renewable energy production;
• reduce dependence on fossil fuel
• reduce our trade deficit in foreign oil, and
• help decentralize supply of electricity to the power grid, providing better security in case of emergency.

The resolution declares that the Feed-in Tariff [is] “an important means in efforts to rapidly deploy renewables in Florida. Use of renewable energy payments will create substantial investment and jobs at the same time as enhancing our energy and national security, and at the least cost to ratepayers. It allows business and residential investment of all sizes to participate, creating long term jobs and expanding generating capacity at an affordable rate.”

A Feed-in Tariff (FiT) is an incentive to encourage the adoption of renewable energy through government legislation. The regional or national electricity utilities are obligated to buy renewable electricity (electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar thermal power, wind power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal power) at above-market rates set by the government.
The higher price helps overcome the cost disadvantages of renewable energy sources. The rate may differ among various forms of power generation. A FiT is normally phased out once the renewable reaches a significant market penetration, such as 20%, as it is not economically sustainable beyond that point.

A Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Another common name for the same concept is renewable electricity standard (RES).
The RPS obligates electricity supply companies to produce a specified fraction of their electricity from renewable energy sources. The RPS relies almost entirely on the private market for its implementation. Market implementation, supporters claim, will result in competition, efficiency and innovation that will deliver renewable energy at the lowest possible cost, allowing renewable energy to compete with cheaper fossil fuel energy sources.

Click here to read the City Commission’s letter to legislators in support of both measures.

Ever since the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, North Port City government has been making environmentally conscious changes in the way it provides services to citizens. On September 24, 2007, the North Port City Commission made a further and very significant commitment to environmental responsibility by adopting the Green Cities Action Accord Resolution. The resolution expresses a commitment to taking “…positive steps toward improving and advancing our environmental quality and energy security.”

At the same time, City staff was directed to proceed with a City-wide effort to achieve the Florida Green Local Government designation. Administered by the non-profit Florida Green Building Coalition, the Green Local Government program sets forth more than 220 tasks cities and counties can undertake in order to earn this designation. Not all of these tasks apply to every local government.

On September 24, 2008, a group of staff members designated to represent their respective departments -- the City's Green Team -- was called together to begin a combined effort to achieve many of these tasks. In the process of accomplishing these tasks, City government also hopes to lead by example and serve as a model to the private sector and the community at large.

Steps Toward a Sustainable Future for Our Community

The City’s Green Team has set as its goal accomplishing as many of the applicable Green Local Government tasks as possible within a total timeframe of about three years. As an initial step, team members identified tasks which have either already been accomplished, or those which can be accomplished at little or no cost.

As reported by their Green Team representatives, City departments have completed, or soon will complete, the following tasks and activities:

• Monitoring and tracking local government energy use.

• Became a member of Florida Green Building Coalition.

• Created a sustainability task force (the Green Team) consisting of representatives from multiple departments to aid in fulfilling the environmental mission of the City.

• Revised the City of North Port Unified Land Development Code to encourage use of pervious pavement and grass parking to promote infiltration of stormwater runoff into the ground.

• Use Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) and/or bicycles for Police patrols in neighborhoods.

• Trained Police officers in crime prevention through environmental design.

• Informative water utility billing (previous month’s and current month’s consumption, etc.).

• Recycled end-of-life electronic equipment.

• Became a member of Florida Local Environmental Resource Agencies (FLERA), a network of local environmental officials who share information and techniques for protecting the environment.

• Potable water quality testing posted on the City’s website. (Click here to visit our Consumer Confidence Report page.)

• Implemented energy-efficient lighting controls for parks.

• Installed bicycle security devices (bike racks) at 52 locations in the City.

• Analyzed the public transportation route system to determine connectivity to bicycle and pedestrian network.

• The City website contains information about alternative commuting. Click here to visit this helpful web page, then click any of the Carpooling links on the left.

• In a continuing replacement program, the City has converted 13 of 17 traffic signals from energy-wasting incandescent lamps to energy-efficient LEDs; the remaining four will be converted by Oct. 1, 2010. Ten of the City’s 12 School Crossing flashers use solar-powered LEDs.

• Curbside recycling for homes and businesses.

• The City has developed a disaster waste management plan (debris management plan).

• Volume-based and special rates for solid waste collection.

• The City has developed a reclaimed water infrastructure.

And this is just the beginning. Check this page for updates and some truly exciting news about North Port’s continuing efforts to become a more sustainable community.