Those of us in Oregon are lucky to live in the same state as one of the most spectacular (and successful) environmental experiments in this country: the City of Portland.  Portland is famous in ecological circles for its efforts to blend sustainability with economic growth, and for being one of the first large cities in the US to bring total greenhouse emissions below 1990 levels.  While the rest of the country has grown dirtier, more polluting, and more environmentally destructive, Portland has shown that it is possible to have a vibrant economy and be environmentally conscious at the same time.  

Portland's reductions in greenhouse emissions are impressive in themselves.  Perhaps the single most important thing about the city's efforts, though, is that it represents an example that other communities can follow.  Along with a few other major US cities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, Portland has been testing out strategies for shifting energy consumption away from fossil fuels, dramatically cutting waste, and even maintaining a healthy "urban forest" that absorbs some of the carbon emitted by the city.  Portland's efforts are not just to be admired; they should be duplicated by local governments all across the country, and especially right here in Oregon.  The Portland Area's many suburbs are in an especially good position to start building on Portland's success; they are close enough to observe what happens in Portland directly, and possibly even work with the very people who made Portland the environmentally friendly place it is.  Why not take a major urban area, like Washington County, and start transforming it into the next Portland, environmentally speaking? 

It would be a major undertaking, to achieve what Portland has in terms of sustainability and reducing greenhouse emissions.  However, we have lots of resources to draw from.  Not only is WA County right next door to Portland itself, but organizations like ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability have the tools to help cities, and the county government itself, asses exactly what needs to be done to bring global warming pollutants down.  The US Cool Counties Initiative provides county governments with a checklist to go through as they begin looking at all the opportunities for reducing emissions.  Becoming the next Portland would be a challenge - there's no doubt about that.  But with the county government, the area's major cities, and various environmental organizations all working together, it is something we could really do.

Indeed, in the next few years local governments all over the country must begin to really follow Portland's example.  I'm not talking about slightly expanding recycling options, or even about just replacing traffic signal lights with efficient LED bulbs.  No, more drastic measures are needed if we are going to stave off global warming.  Overall emissions from entire communities must be brought down, as Portland has brought them down.  There is no question about this; what is open to question is which local governments will be the first to take Portland's example seriously, and bring emissions down significantly.  WA County and the cities within it are in a prime position to become environmental leaders.  It's up to us to make sure they take advantage.

If you haven't already, please SIGN THE PETITION TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, asking them to pass the Cool Counties Declaration!

And I encourage you to check out the Cool Counties webpage - some new counties have recently been added, although still none from Oregon.