TheReview_Sept_Oct_2021_FINAL

THE LAB REPORT

Ideas, initiatives, and activities from the League’s Policy Research Labs

Going Green: How Advancing Sustainability Efforts Helps Build Community Wealth

By Shanna Draheim

O ver the last year and a half, as we have been adapting to life in a pandemic, many Michigan communities have realized that placemaking strategies are also an important tool for our physical, mental, and economic resiliency. The parks, bike paths, hiking trails, and other outdoor spaces we have been investing in over the last several decades became lifelines for people as we sought to get out of our houses and safely experience even modest engagement with our fellow community members. And as the need for outdoor activities grew, our municipalities quickly adapted by closing streets to cars; expanding bike and pedestrian access; and creating outdoor, walkable business districts downtown. As it turns out, these measures didn’t just help us cope with COVID-19. They are also part of the strategy for fighting climate change and improving community resilience. Numerous studies for example, have shown that greenhouse gases and local air pollutants were reduced during COVID restrictions—in some cities substantially— and that those reductions persisted even as lockdowns were lifted in many cases. Climate and health science tells us that we will face increased risks to our infrastructure, safety, and health from severe weather, disease, and temperature changes related to climate change. Municipalities, who have experienced increased pressure to provide critical services during the pandemic (while simultaneously facing severe declines in revenue), will continue to be on the front lines. As our lives and economy have begun to reemerge, how can we build back better by focusing on a sustainable economy? With the passage last spring of the American Rescue Plan Act and the likelihood of additional federal recovery and infrastructure funding on the horizon, local governments have an opportunity to make investment choices that will impact the economic and social well-being of their communities for decades to come.

Ferndale Saves Money and Improves Safety with Lighting Replacement In 2019 the City of Ferndale approved a project to convert more than 1,700 streetlights from incandescent to LED streetlights. LED lights use at least 75 percent less energy, last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, and provides better quality lighting. The benefits? Municipalities reduce the costs of materials and labor, and traffic safety is improved. Ferndale’s streetlight conversion has helped the city save about $168,000 on energy costs. The money saved is put into Ferndale’s internal revolving energy fund, which is then used to invest in other sustainability-focused projects on an ongoing basis.

A recent report by the World Bank International Finance Corporation, A Green Reboot for Emerging Markets: Key Sectors for Post-COVID Sustainable Growth, estimated that investments in 10 key sectors across several emerging global markets could yield trillions of dollars in investments and millions of new jobs. Michigan has already begun investing in many of these sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and green buildings. By allocating resources in ways that ensure a cleaner living environment for residents, Michigan local leaders can also create jobs and build a foundation for a more robust and equitable local economy.

40 THE REVIEW

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021