Community Infrastructure:

Is your town ready for change?

Presented By:Shanna Ratner

Yellow Wood Associates

“Inadequate public infrastructure is viewed as the most significant roadblock to economic development in small town and rural America.”

The Problem:

The Pulse of Small Town and Rural America, Report from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation eForum (August 30, 2004 national focus group of 210 regional development professionals supported by the Kellogg Foundation)

Implications of Climate Changefor Infrastructure

Rising Temperatures and Increased Precipitation will impact:

Energy UseRoadways & BridgesStormwaterWastewaterWater Supply

How Infrastructure Affects Climate change

Source: www.dec.ny.gov

INFRASTRUCTURE & GREENHOUSE GASES

Heat & Power Generation

Buildings Transportation Solid Waste Water Systems Open Space

VT’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Source: Center for Climate Strategies - Final Vermont Greenhouse Gas inventory and Reference Case Projections, 1990-2030

Sustainable Infrastructure:

Reduces costs over a lifetime of use (lifecycle costs)

Shares costs equitably across user groups Reduces effects of infrastructure on climate

change Minimizes the use of non-renewable resources Minimizes impact on the natural environment Protects biodiversity Uses renewable resources in a sustainable

manner Is designed for flexibility

Sustainable Infrastructure

How we get there:Mechanical SolutionsBiological SolutionsBehavioral Solutions

Sustainable Infrastructure

Goal: REDUCE FUEL USE

MECHANICAL: purchase more fuel efficient trucks

BEHAVIORAL: put in place a “no idling” policy for all municipal vehicles

Sustainable Infrastructure

Goal: EROSION CONTROL

MECHANICAL: build retaining wallBIOLOGICAL: install soft-shore

protection

Green Community Technologies® is a service to help communities make infrastructure choices that will: Save money

Improve municipal service delivery

Improve human health and quality of life

Protect the environment

How We Get There

Sustainable Infrastructure: WasteWater

TRADITIONAL APPROACH: Sewer collection, Treatment plant

SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: Reduce Wastewater at the sourceUse natural systems Install highly efficient equipment

•Decentralized Systems•Cluster Systems

•Anaerobic Digestion

•Composting•Reclamation

•Fertilizer•Fly Ash•Energy

Inventory and Assess Infrastructure Inventory and Assess Infrastructure Assets Assets

Research Alternative Technologies and Present Findings

Assist Communities in Implementing Appropriate Alternatives

Green Community Technologies®

Portfolio of Services

Use the Infrastructure Inventory to:

Meet GASB 34 Requirements Prioritize target areas for infrastructure

improvements Conduct a Climate Change Risk

Assessment and Preparedness Plan Put in place long-term infrastructure

planning that meets the needs of your community and is adaptive to the changing climate

Infrastructure Inventory: Results

Richmond, VT

Need for energy efficiency improvements for town hall

Richmond, MA

Community will run out of cemetery space in 10 years

Hancock, NH Eight bridges will need to be repaired or replaced with 10-15 years

Litchfield, ME

Community requires a better approach to aquifer protection and ways to prevent salt infiltration to community wells

Ottertail, MNCluster zoning would be advantageous to the city’s desired decentralized wastewater collection and treatment

“We are very enthusiastic about setting an example for other

communities in New York State. This is the first time we will

undertake a comprehensive evaluation of our buildings.

Green Community Technologies brought this all together for

the town and provided recommendations for us to consider.”

-Mary Ellen Keith, Franklin, New York Town Supervisor

“I think it was money well spent. In our case, we settled on

the wastewater upgrade project, but it could apply to a

number of projects.”

Rocky Martin, Director, Department of Building and

Facilities in Hinesburg, Vermont

What People Are Saying

Green InfrastructureRESOURCES

Funding Opportunities

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG)Competitive Local Government Sub-GrantsDistributed through the VT Clean Energy Development Fund

•Energy Efficiency Retrofits•Financial Incentive Programs for Energy Efficiency•Implementation of Transportation Projects•Renewable Energy Technologies on Government Buildings•Traffic Signals and Street Lighting

http://publicservice.vermont.gov/energy/ee_cleanenergyfund.html

General Resources

Green Community Technologieshttp://www.greencommunitytechnologies.com/

Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments.http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/adaptation-guidebook/view?searchterm

Green Infrastructure: US EPAhttp://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298