News for December, 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
2009 was a remarkable year for CNT! We’ve capitalized on the many unique opportunities to research, invent, and test strategies that use urban resources more efficiently and more equitably. We’ve lent our expertise to the federal administration on creating the cross-cutting interagency, “Partnership for Livable Communities”, and participated in groundbreaking federal initiatives like the announcement of a national high speed rail master plan. Our local policy efforts have ‘trickled up’ to the national level, with the “Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009” following the passage of the Illinois counterpart. We’ve continued our work at the ‘ground level’, replacing about 2,300 square feet of pavement with native plants and permeable surfaces, and conducting energy audits for 8,250 units in 260 multifamily buildings.
In 2010 we hope to scale up our strategies at expanding transportation options, reducing stormwater runoff and creating higher performing, energy-efficient, buildings. We wish you the best as well and hope you will continue to support our work. Whether you read our blog, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, peruse our photos or simply believe in our work – thank you. Your support fuels us! (photo by doug88888)
Have a fantastic New Year!
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
The U.S. House of Representatives has recognized green infrastructure’s tremendous potential for clean water, energy, jobs and community health with the introduction of the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009.
Reps. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Steve Driehaus (D-OH) introduced federal legislation (HR 4202) on December 3 that authorizes up to $300 million annually in green infrastructure (GI) planning and implementation grants. The bill will also establish “GI centers of excellence” in planning, implementation and policy, and help states establish Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standards that would incrementally grow states use of green infrastructure stormwater management, akin to renewable energy portfolio standards.
“This is an opportunity to extend federal investment in green infrastructure’s ecologically and economically effective water conservation approaches,” said Steve Wise, CNT’s Natural Resources Director. “Green infrastructure returns rainwater from a stormwater problem back to the most critical, valuable resource we have. Green infrastructure protects and restores clean water, saves energy embedded in water treatment and pumping, and enhances communities’ health and vitality through expanded natural areas.
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
In a new analysis of ten months’ worth of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) data released last week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, three public interest and smart growth groups found that for every billion dollars spent on public transportation projects, 16,419 job-months were created. A billion dollars spent on highway infrastructure projects created only 8,781 job-months.
CNT, Smart Growth America, and U.S. PIRG analyzed the new data released and found that stimulus money spent on public transportation projects created almost double the number of “job-months” as money spent on highway infrastructure projects.
CNT President, Scott Bernstein, put those findings into perspective in light of the new $154 billion jobs bill passed by the U.S. House on Wednesday, “In the middle of a recession, the principle for setting a priority for public spending should be to “leave no job behind”. Since the federal government’s own numbers show that dollar for dollar transit investments produced as many or more jobs as did highway investments, the new jobs bill should reflect balance in the choice between these two kinds of opportunities.”
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Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Policy, Transportation and Community Development | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Maurie was a truly unusual engineer. He was an innovator. When he woke up in the morning, the questions he asked himself were: How can we use less energy? How can we generate electricity more efficiently? How can we invent something new?
In 1981, Maurie joined the Chicago Energy Commission, a blue ribbon panel sponsored by the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Business and Professional People in the Public Interest. Maurie was that rare engineer that was interested in public policy. He helped frame an economic development agenda for Chicago around energy conservation. This is something that is only now, more than 25 years later, getting the attention it deserves.
During the same period, Maurie and Scott Bernstein, the founder of CNT, identified the Union Station Steam Plant, at Roosevelt Road and the Chicago River, as an opportunity for innovation. Why not turn this 1920s-era steam plant into a state-of-the-art cogeneration facility that generates steam, electricity, and chilled water – and become the comprehensive energy source for the building along the Amtrak right of way?
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
On November 18 the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) selected the CNT as the Coordinator of the Hickory Creek Watershed Planning Group. The Watershed Planning Group is conducting an 18-month planning process, with Geosyntec Consultants as the technical consultant, to create a plan to preserve the creek as the surrounding municipalities expand rapidly.
Hickory Creek is one of the finest streams in the Chicago region. Not only is it vital to the Des Plaines river system, but it also has historical significance; early 20th century ecologist Victor Shelford formulated the ground-breaking theory of stream succession based on observations he made at Hickory Creek. Thus, planning for the creek’s future is vital.
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
Last week, CNT kicked off the BUILT (Broadening Urban Investment to Leverage Transit) In Ohio partnership with the Office of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and the cities of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. CNT and its partners will develop strategic advice on making new investments in transit, leveraging them towards economic development and applying for new opportunities in the federal Sustainable Communities partnership between HUD, DOT and EPA.
The BUILT partners assembled key decision-makers in each region to discuss the impacts of prior transportation investment decisions and the opportunity to move Ohio in a new, more sustainable direction. Stakeholders identified their region’s strengths, weaknesses and short term economic development opportunities.
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Posted in Consulting, Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Earlier this year, when CNT received a “MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions”, leaders called our work,…quality, provocative, and effective. Simply put,“CNT is the go to place for new ideas.”
For over 30 years, CNT has been blazing new paths and finding fresh solutions and innovations to urban sustainability.
Your support is important to us so that we can continue to carry out our unique vision of healthy cities that use resources efficiently and lead to national, regional and household prosperity.
Read about our 2009 key accomplishment and make an investment in sustainable communities today!
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