A growing component of Pima Association of Government’s Environmental Planning Program is to build awareness of energy alternatives and sustainable living in the region.
In addition to PAG’s longstanding support of the Clean Cities program, which encourages the replacement of imported petroleum with alternative fuels, PAG facilitated discussions by the Greater Tucson Strategic Energy Plan working group leading to a set of recommendations for alternative energy options. These recommendations were approved in November 2006 by PAG’s Regional Council.
One of the initial outcomes of these recommendations was PAG’s first Alternative Energy EXPO, held Sept.14 and Sept. 15, 2007, with over 4,000 people attending and 60 vendors showcasing their products and services. An Alternative Energy Forum for community leaders was held on Sept. 14 in conjunction with the expo.
PAG also has started efforts to help promote the use of solar power, southern Arizona’s greatest natural resource.
A sustainable desert living environment is increasingly seen as an important public policy goal. One PAG initiative just getting under way is the promotion of plastic bottle recycling. Other discussions are occurring to create partnerships to further promote recycling and identify characteristics of a sustainable community.
PAG also prepared the 2006 Greater Tucson Regional Indicators Report (PDF), which was approved by PAG’s Regional Council in January 2007. The report provides baseline statistics that will provide measures of progress in the areas of natural resources, air quality, water, transportation/energy, as well as the community and our economy.