Some people have asked us why we picked Atlanta as our home for the Good Jobs, Green Jobs South Regional Conference February 23-24. There are obviously a large variety of factors and consideration that go into picking a location for a meeting of our size — accessibility, meeting space, hotel availability, etc. — but one thing that was particularly attractive about Atlanta is the variety of activities the city is undertaking in its effort to become one of the nation’s Top 10 Sustainable Cities.

When Mayor Kasim Reed unveiled his plan during his first year in office — called the “Power to Change” — he said, “I believe the City of Atlanta should be a leading example of how a major urban municipality can take greater responsibility for efficient energy and water use, the conservation of green space, and the promotion of a healthier, cleaner and greener environment. It is vital we take concrete, measurable actions around sustainability now to protect the future of our city.”

Read more in the #GJGJ2012 blog

 Since that time, Atlanta has undertaken a number of initiatives including:

• SHINE, a residential weather rebate Pilot Program offering homeowners in the City of Atlanta the opportunity to receive up to $3,500 in rebates for duct and air sealing, insulation improvement, caulking, weather stripping, the replacement of doors and windows and other qualifying improvements;
• The Metro Atlanta Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Task Force (MAPEVRTF), A Task Force focusing on the creation of a comprehensive infrastructure for Electric Vehicle owners in Atlanta;
• Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability, a privately funded initiative “focused on instituting environmental protection practices into Atlanta city government so that every new environmental activity, program, or policy is screened and evaluated according to its economic and social impact.”

We look forward to seeing these initiatives in action and hearing more about them when visit Atlanta in less than a month for Good Jobs, Green Jobs South. We’ll have a number of workshops talking about Atlanta’s efforts including:

• Green Economy and Sustainability Activities in the City of Atlanta on Thursday; and
• The City of Atlanta’s Electrification Initiatives on Friday.

 You don’t want to miss this exciting conference, so sign up today!

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia