Willow Glen Resident

2-22-2008

Green Vision update shows progress, challenges with city budget squeeze

By Stephen Baxter

Some progress has been made on San Jose's 10 Green Vision environmental goals, but city officials say that budget constraints could slow the pace of the ambitious 15-year plan.

The city council on Feb. 1 directed its staff to investigate a citywide ban on plastic bags and city purchases of bottled water.

"This implementation will span 15 years," said city manager Debra Figone. "How we sustain momentum in that time will be the challenge."

The city approved the Green Vision goals last October.

One goal is to replace the city's 60,000 streetlights with zero-emission lights. Nearly all San Jose's streetlights are low sodium, in part to avoid interfering with astronomers' work at Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton. City officials are now testing light-emitting diodes (LEDS) that cost more but last 12 to 15 years--up to four times longer than the current lights.

Some of the new lights have been installed at Almaden Avenue and Balbach Street, and it is unclear if the city will buy more of the new lights.

Another goal is to run the city's entire vehicle fleet on alternative fuels.

The council has already passed a "green fleet" policy, and about 35 percent of its vehicles use alternative fuels such as biodiesel.

Peter Jensen, San Jose's director of environmental services, said the budget now limits officials to replacing a few gas-fueled cars at a time. In April, the city is expected to switch from B10 fuel to B20--which has higher biological content and burns cleaner than gasoline. The city hopes to eventually use B100 fuel.

Planting 100,000 new trees is another target, but tree experts said at a committee meeting on Feb. 4 that they worried about the cost of pruning and maintaining trees.

"While we plant 100,000 new trees, we can't let 100,000 die," said Rhonda Berry, president of the San Jose-based nonprofit Our City Forest.

Other Green Vision initiatives are expected to save the city money, such as its goal of reducing energy use by 50 percent citywide.

Margaret Bruce, director of environmental programs, said city workers have been conducting audits and making changes to the city's fire stations, community centers and pool facilities. San Jose also is participating in the national Change a Light, Change the World campaign, which asks residents to change at least one light bulb in their home to a longer-lasting compact fluorescent light.

City leaders also have set a goal to bring 25,000 new "clean tech" jobs to the city, and so far the city has drawn more than 1,500 jobs, including 350 solar panel manufacturing jobs. John Weis, deputy executive director of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, said the new manufacturing jobs were the first in Silicon Valley in 20 years.

There are also plans for a solar operation to move into a city-owned building at 1290 Parkmoor Ave. near the Rose Garden neighborhood, Weis said.

Another Green Vision goal is to derive all the city's electrical power from renewable sources.

City officials have tried to make it easier for residents to get solar-power related permits with a "one stop" process, and a request for proposals is due this winter for a solar power project at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Building or converting 50 million square feet of green buildings is another Green Vision target, and the city has so far reached 1 million square feet. Another 4 million square feet are in progress, city planning officials said. Many libraries, fire stations and private buildings also are being considered for green upgrades.

State home builders' groups have expressed interest in regional green-building policies, and city leaders indicated they are working toward them.

Diverting all waste from landfills is another Green Vision goal, and San Jose already leads the nation's big cities with a 62 percent diversion rate. Officials said they would try to include more apartments in recycling efforts, and hold more zero-waste events.

A study on city waste is due in May.

City leaders aim to recycle all the city's wastewater, and it now recycles 10 million gallons daily for irrigation and industrial use. The focus is on changing the perception of wastewater for potable uses.

City leaders also have set a goal of connecting 100 miles of trails. Trails manager Yves Zsutty said the city already has more than 46 miles completed.