Atlanta
Sustainable Atlanta Logo

The Sustainable Growth Engine Newsletter

January 2012

In this issue:

- An update from Sustainable Atlanta Executive Director Suzanne Burnes    

 

- Atlanta Regional Commission Releases Plan 2040

 

- Metro Chamber SEGI Task Force Report Published 

 

- CNG Infrastructure & Capacity Revving Up 

 

 

- Staying connected to Sustainable Atlanta 

 

EDExecutive Director's Update  

 

Greetings!

 

Suzanne Burnes As we look back at the past few months of 2011, there is much to share from the sustainability movement in Atlanta. We hope you have all heard the exciting news about Denise Quarles joining the City of Atlanta as the new Sustainability Director. Denise takes the helm of an incredible team already making much progress on projects towards the Mayor's Power to Change Sustainability Plan goals - with her leadership we know they will do great work in 2012. Sustainable Atlanta (SA) looks forward to our continued collaboration with the City of Atlanta ahead.

 

The past few months have also seen the conclusion of two substantial efforts that will shape sustainability work in Atlanta in 2012 - the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce's Sustainable Economic Growth Initiative and the Atlanta Regional Commission's development of Plan2040, a regional sustainability plan. As implementation of these plans ramps up in the new year, Sustainable Atlanta will be there to connect the work of our community partners with these focused efforts.

 

Beyond the opportunities that these coordinated efforts may create, we'll be keeping you posted on specific sustainability projects underway, including:

  • Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge with more than 25 million square feet of commercial buildings in downtown Atlanta committed to reducing energy consumption by 20% by 2020.
  • Trinity Avenue Farm as it moves from design competition to construction.
  • Midtown Greenprints as Midtown Alliance, Southface and SA plan for and accelerate sustainable progress at this district scale.

 

SA is pleased to share exciting news about our team. This fall we were incredibly fortunate to add Nancy Geisler as our director of stakeholder relations. With her help, we're thrilled to be announcing the launch of EnvisionATL 2012: Rise Up Atlanta, a series of monthly events that will highlight opportunities for action and engagement in making our city a better place. Stay tuned for details soon!

 

Finally, we hope that our many partners in sustainability will give us the chance to help promote your events in 2012. Please email info@sustainableatlanta.org  to share your stories and let us amplify them.

 

2012 is upon us. Let's get to work!

 

Suzanne Burnes
Executive Director 

Sustainable Atlanta

 

 
sponAtlanta Regional Commission Releases Plan 2040

Atlanta

The Atlanta region is one of the world's great economic centers, but we can't afford to take our quality of life for granted. PLAN 2040 is the Atlanta Regional Commission's comprehensive blueprint to sustain metro Atlanta's livability and prosperity through mid-century, as the region is expected to add some three million residents.

 

Feature1Metro Chamber SEGI Task Force Report Published
Atlanta   

The Metro Atlanta Chamber works with local, state and federal policy makers to address regional environmental issues such as water supply, air quality, energy and land use. We have a rich history of bringing together major stakeholders to tackle difficult problems. Over the past 15 years, the Chamber has helped establish the Clean Air Campaign, the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and the Livable Communities Coalition.

  

Early in 2011, the Metro Atlanta Chamber convened a task force of business leaders and community partners to identify sustainability-related economic development opportunities in metro Atlanta. With the pro-bono assistance of McKinsey and Company, the Sustainable Economic Growth Initiative (SEGI) has produced a report recommending strategies for growing jobs in the clean tech and sustainability sectors over the next five years.   

    

 Read More >> 

col
Feature2CNG Infrastructure & Capacity Revving Up

Clean Cities Atlanta 
 

In 2011, we saw numerous efforts around the region to reduce our reliance of foreign petroleum, including some that focus specifically on compressed natural gas policy and programs. Earlier this month, the NAT GAS Act, already supported by more than 180 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, has been introduced in the Senate as S.1863. The original bipartisan cosponsors-which include Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)-presented a bill that extends tax credits for natural gas vehicles and building refueling infrastructure. Importantly, the incentives would be fully paid for through a unique surcharge on natural gas used in vehicles.

 

Read More >>  

 
Feature3Sustainable Atlanta Welcomes Nancy Geisler!

AtlantaSustainable Atlanta is pleased to welcome Nancy C. Geisler to the team as a part-time executive serving as Director of Stakeholder Engagement. During her time with us, Nancy will work closely with our executive team to organize and facilitate Sustainable Atlanta collaborative forums.

 

When not volunteering her time with Sustainable Atlanta, Nancy works both as the Executive Director of Business Development for Sustainability Dashboard, LLC, a new venture offering easy-to-use, low cost sustainability management software as well as a sustainability consultant to the private sector.

 

Nancy is very well known and regarded in the sustainability community. She was formerly employed by Unisource Worldwide, Inc., a $5 billion multinational logistics and distribution company as their Vice President of Sustainability. During her tenure with Unisource the company was recognized by Supply and Demand Chain Executive Magazine as a Green Supply Chain (2010), by Forest Ethics in their Green Grades reports (2009, 2010) and as a significant contributor to the Healthy Schools Campaign (2008, 2009). She also serves on the leadership team of the High Performance, Healthy Schools committee of the Georgia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

Nancy has more than 25 years of marketing and consulting experience, including product and business management, communications, business development, strategic sourcing, business planning, sales and market research.

 

She earned a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, PA; and a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, in Bryn Mawr, PA. She is also certified as a LEED-AP BD&C by the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

Nancy's email address is nancy@sustainableatlanta.org .  

 
connect

Connect with Us

  

 Contact Us 

Donate to Sustainable Atlanta 

Sign up for e-updates 

Follow us on Twitter 

Calendar of Events