Greening America’s Capitals will assist state capitals, selected through a competitive application process, develop a vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate green building and green infrastructure, EPA says.
Lisa Heinzerling, Associate Administrator for EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, says: "The selected cities will offer sustainable development models for their states and for many communities around the country." EPA will provide design assistance to up to four cities per year to help them use sustainable designs to develop neighborhoods with multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits.
The design teams will assist the city staff in developing project strategies to accelerate sustainable development in priority neighborhoods and create sustainability models for other cities to follow.
The projects also could be used as testing grounds for larger, city-wide actions, such as changes to local codes and regulations to better support sustainable growth and green building. Capital cities are invited to submit letters of interest to EPA by July 9, 2010.
