https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Co-op Solutions


Andrii Yalanskyi/Alamy Stock Photo

Article

In 2023, cities and counties will start fulfilling their climate action plans

In 2023, cities and counties will start fulfilling their climate action plans

  • Written by Michael Keating
  • 21st November 2022

We’ll see movement in at least one environmental area next year, predicts James Patteson, PE, principal at Blue Heron Leadership Group and past chair of the American Public Works Association’s Center for Sustainability. “Many communities have worked for several years on climate action plans, and I think you’ll see these plans move into the implementation stages. You’ll see communities move to both reduce energy use and/or use alternative green energy in their facilities and fleets.” He also predicts that local governments will create more active, multi-modal transportation choices and improve the health of local waterways.

Patteson predicts we’ll see at least one other potential trend as we head into the New Year. “In the year 2023, we’ll be looking at how communities utilize the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding to rebuild infrastructure in a more resilient and sustainable manner.”

He adds that in the coming year, communities will also be building social equity into their decision-making. “This will improve how they deliver programs and services to better serve the unique needs of diverse communities.”

For cities and counties looking to quickly achieve a big sustainability win, Patteson offers this advice: “Look internally at your own operations and capital improvement programs—local governments are where the rubber meets the road and where administrators can lead by example. Some easy wins are internal policies around energy use (no engine idling, temperature in buildings, lighting, water usage).” He says that big sustainability wins can also be achieved by enacting green purchasing policies.

He adds that infrastructure project planning is an activity where local governments can earn sustainability victories. He says that those projects “can be designed and built in a manner that engages the community in creating a stronger and more resilient future.”

For officials who wish to make their city and county purchases and their communities more sustainable, Patteson says there is plenty of help out there. “My biggest advice is you do not need to start from scratch. Many jurisdictions have already developed green/sustainable purchasing policies and have done the hard work of verifying availability of commodities as well as the best and most effective strategies. As more communities have adopted greener purchasing policies, the market has also shifted and has created more opportunities.”

Patteson also advises public sector administrators to create a purchasing committee made up of procurement staff and the agency’s largest users of material. “You need their buy-in and support to make this process successful. The procurement team and users will also bring more ideas to the table.”

Patteson believes local governments can benefit by using cooperative contracts to acquire needed sustainable goods and services. “Cooperative purchasing agreements are a fantastic tool. Many Councils of Governments, states and regional bodies have specific sustainability targets and have built sustainability goals and policies into their purchasing contracts.” He adds that many of the contracts by these bodies and agencies have “rider clauses” that allow jurisdictions within their region to piggyback on.

Patteson urges governments to see what procurement vehicles are currently available. “A first check of such opportunities can save a lot of time and work—what procurement tools are already available that achieve our goals.”

Blue Heron Leadership Group (BHLG) is a small business established in 2019 to address the evolving needs of public service organizations. Its mission is to help public service organizations deliver services effectively, safely, and affordably, while complying with regulations. Three administrators in Public Works and Environmental Services from Fairfax County, Va., started the firm.

Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at [email protected].

Tags: homepage-featured-1 homepage-featured-2 homepage-featured-3 homepage-featured-4 Cooperative Purchasing Procurement Co-op Solutions Co-op Solutions Procurement Article

Most Recent


  • sustainability
    Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs
    There’s a growing urgency for cities and counties to go green, says Sol Salinas, executive vice president, sustainability lead at Capgemini Americas, a service-based company that provides consulting, digital transformation and outsourcing services to many organizations, including government agencies. It partners with organizations to transform and manage their operations by harnessing the power of technology. […]
  • Phoenix
    Federal funds help fast-growing Arizona city address several infrastructure challenges and needs
    Joe Giudice, public works director for the city of Phoenix, says the influx of new residents is driving a lot of construction in his community. “Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States. It is one of the fastest growing cities in a fast-growing region, which influences infrastructure product and service demand. This […]
  • recruit
    With a few strategies and tools, public procurement directors can recruit new, diverse staffers
    Yes, being a public purchasing professional is a much-coveted career that can have a big impact on a community, says Celeste Frye, principal and CEO of Public Works Partners, a WBE/DBE/SBE-certified urban planning and consulting firm. “From purchasing quality foods for school lunches or environmentally sustainable trucks for trash collection, procurement managers have a significant […]
  • electric vehicles
    How data can drive electric vehicle funding
    Transportation is the highest greenhouse gas-emitting sector in the United States, with cars, trucks, commercial aircraft, trains and other sources producing, by most estimates, around 30 percent of all carbon emissions in the country. Electric vehicles (EV) have the potential to reshape the transportation sector and support state and local decarbonization efforts. Private EV use […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • sustainability
    Procurement plays a vital role as communities work to achieve their sustainability goals
  • sustainability
    Cities can move the sustainability needle several ways
  • infrastructure
    Infrastructure improvements in cities often feature clean energy or connected technologies
  • Proposed 2023 federal budget increases local government, police spending, decreases deficit

WHITE PAPERS


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023

6th February 2023

How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022
view all

Podcast


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns

7th February 2023

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future

1st February 2023

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns dlvr.it/Sj2RyK

7th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs dlvr.it/Sj1znw

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023 dlvr.it/Sj1KxB

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths dlvr.it/Shvs31

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community dlvr.it/ShvZn0

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved ‘a pathway toward economic… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Strategic Budgeting for Modern Government dlvr.it/ShrHmD

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future dlvr.it/Shp7sH

1st February 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.