We are in a period of uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion. How do we come together to support each other, stay productive, and stay safe? How do we continue to advance our values of environmental and social justice? With the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming more apparent that sustainability is not just [...]
Beginning the week of June 1, the last phase of the ART Transit Station renovations will include the installation of the City’s first photovoltaic array, commonly referred to as solar panels. In all, 180 solar panels will be installed on the south-facing side of the passenger canopy to create a system designed to produce over [...]
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management of the Blue Horizons Project. The RFP seeks to fund a local organization to oversee the implementation of the Blue Horizons Project. The goal of the project is to make a clean energy [...]
The City of Asheville continues its support of the creation of clean energy by signing an Amicus brief criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule. The rule, we believe, fails to reduce dangerous air pollution and address climate change, increasing health and safety risks for Americans, including [...]
You may be staying home this Earth Day, but there’s still action you can take to honor and support Planet Earth April 22 — and every other day of the year. Emphasis on the word “action.” That’s the message from EarthDay.org, which lists tons of ways you can advocate for Mother Earth from [...]
With 2019 nearly in the books, it’s time to take stock of City of Asheville projects and developments from the past year. Here are 10 initiatives that your City government advanced in 2019. Read about the Asheville Police Department’s accomplishments for 2019 at this link. We’ll have 2020 initiatives to look [...]
’Tis the season — to recycle! Seriously, between now and the end of the year… Asheville, we love you, and you are going to generate a lot of….STUFF. You know, all those boxes and bags, tinsel and tags. As part of the City’s sustainability and trash-reduction goals, we certainly want to keep as much of these materials [...]
The City of Asheville is one of 19 local governments within the State of North Carolina committed to setting renewable energy goals. The City partnered with Buncombe County staff to engage a consultant, The Cadmus Group, to develop a road map to implement City Council’s 100% Renewable Energy goal. Following months of discussion and [...]
Registration open for second summit to be held on November 14 A coordinated effort to improve food waste reduction is underway. The Food Waste Solutions Summit is a regional gathering to disrupt food waste issues facing our communities, expand our networks, and inspire dynamic solutions. This second summit, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. [...]
Oct. 2 was Energy Efficiency Day. Effectively increasing your energy efficiency involves more than just using less energy — it requires you becoming aware of how energy is used, where it’s wasted, in everyday life. The City of Asheville is committed to sustainability, and wants to share some tips on how [...]
Transitioning from fossil-fuel energy use to 100% renewable energy sources will take careful planning. Through their leadership, Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners adopted a goal of doing just that by the year 2030. In 2018, City Council adopted Resolution 18-279, calling for the City of Asheville to transition [...]
Asheville’s Blue Horizons Project earned the City an Honorable Mention in the Mayors Climate Protection Awards announced at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Honolulu today. Mayor Esther Manheimer is a participant in this climate consortium made up of mayors across the nation. The Blue Horizons Project works to reduce the region’s peak [...]
Resource information Find information page about climate resilience initiative here. The Climate Resilience Resource Guide is posted on that page. Here is a direct link. Find information about the 100% renewable energy initiative here. Original post: Interested in local energy and climate issues? Come to the City of Asheville’s Climate Resource [...]
Are you “recycling right?” We’ve all had that moment when we’ve gotten confused on what the City of Asheville accepts and does not accept in the Big Blue recycling bins. Getting it right is important and here’s why: As a city, our contamination rate is on the rise. Where we were previously at a 5% contamination [...]
Residents invited to participate in Asheville Edibles initiatives this spring Serviceberries are ripening now — making it a perfect time to learn how to cook with them! In partnership with the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, the City of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability is pleased to unveil a crowd-sourced Asheville Edibles Map and a free serviceberries harvesting/cooking [...]
Community partners also honored The Energy Innovation Task Force (EITF) is excited to announce that through community collaboration, the gas-fired peaker plant, originally planned for 2023, has been pushed out beyond 2032. “Delaying the need for any additional natural gas-fired generation in Buncombe County beyond 2032 is a big deal. The facility would have cost residential [...]
City of Asheville and Buncombe County Staff are working with a consultant to develop a roadmap to implement 100% renewable energy goals referenced in City Resolution 18-279 and Buncombe County Resolution 17-12-06 The City resolution calls for Asheville to “transition municipal operations from fossil-fueled energy to 100% renewable energy by Dec. 31, 2030.” [...]