Environmental Challenges

By Leo Panian

Local initiatives provide the solutions to global problems.

While Albany is ahead of most cities in its efforts, we have only recently begun the transformations in response to global climate change and energy use. Our recently implemented green building standards, which seek to minimize the environmental impact of our structures, represent one of those strategies.

For example, we need to look for ways to manage energy needs as a community. I would look for ways that the city can promote the use of solar energy with incentives for property owners. We should be ambitious in setting energy self-sufficiency goals.

Reducing our reliance on cars requires effective alternatives. This means prioritizing the safety and accessibility of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. It also means that important goods and services as well as access to mass transit are easily available to residents.

We need to support the efforts to complete the city's bike paths and connect them with the Bay Trail.

In addition to encouraging alternatives, as a city we should review parking policies, particularly in pedestrian zones, to make sure we are not encouraging more driving trips by providing free on-street parking.