Sustainable Prosperity:

An Introduction to the Strategic Plan

By: Brian P. Sheehan

Director of SustainabilityCity of Charleston

Overview of Current Green Plan Efforts

– Better Buildings

– Cleaner Energy

– Sustainable Communities

– Improved Transportation

– Zero Waste

– Green Education

Introduction to Strategic Plan

• Five Key Areas:1. CGT or ‘responsible’

investors

2. CGT industries

3. CGT centers of higher education

4. CGT laboratories

5. Carbon reduction strategies

*CGT: Clean and Green Tech

Framework of the Strategic Plan

What to consider:

1. Does the recommended action, policy, or initiative produce growth in at least one of five CGT areas?

2. Does the action, policy or initiative lead to reduced waste, energy use, or greenhouse gas emissions?

How We Can Benefit from the Strategic Plan

• New job creation

• Energy and money savings

• Environmental awareness

• Better quality of life

Focus Areas

• Dynamic public, non-profit, and private partnerships

• Sustainable city operations

• Ordinance and policy advisement, advocacy and implementation

• Ongoing initiative development

• Images courtesy of www.arun.gov and www.charlestongateway.com

Key Players

• Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability

• Division of Sustainability

• City Departments, Boards and Committees

• Sustainability Advisory Council & Green Committee

• Partnerships to be established

• Charleston Area Businesses and Individuals

2010+ Initiatives Outline

• Charleston Green Business Challenge

• Energy Efficiency Partnership

• City of Charleston Comprehensive Plan: Sustainability Indicators Report

• Smart City Charleston

NEW ONGOING

• Post Graduate Sustainability Training Center

• Charleston Carbon Fund

• Wind Industry Cluster Development

• Sustainability Marketing and Communications Plan

Charleston Green Business ChallengeCGT Investors, Industries, Education, Laboratory, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Promote sustainability throughout

Charleston

• Develop relationships with organizations and learn from one another

• Inspire businesses to be more energy efficient and reduce waste

• Create jobs from energy saving measures

Energy Efficiency PartnershipCGT Investors, Industries, Education, Laboratory, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Create ‘one-stop’ shop energy

retrofit program

• Work with Charleston Water System for on-bill repayment financing

• Establish Charleston as national leader of energy retrofits

• Limit redundancies in energy efficiency market

City Comprehensive Plan: Sustainability Indicators ReportCGT Laboratory, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Integrate city’s sustainability goals

into each element of Comprehensive Plan

• Create proper regulators environment for expedited sustainable development

• Accurately report city’s full baseline of sustainability indicators (i.e. energy use, greenhouse gas emissions)

Smart City CharlestonCGT Industries, CGT Laboratory, Education, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Generate cost savings for city

through increased energy efficiency while decreasing waste and emissions

• Create jobs directly through implementation and indirectly through creating and promoting modern business environment

• Inspire Charleston businesses to be “greener”

• Image courtesy of www.greenkampong.com

Smart City CharlestonCGT Investors, Industries, Laboratory, Education, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Support development of world-

class sustainability leadership training and degree program

• Co-locate a Charleston hub for CGT investors, industries, educators, policy developers and other stakeholders

• Continue to brand Charleston as sustainability center of Southeast

• Image courtesy of www.wix.com

Charleston Carbon FundCGT Industries, Investors, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Generate significant increases in

venture capital, productivity and innovation

• Create family-wage jobs directly in high-growth, clean tech industries

• Position Charleston as SC hub for investment in clean tech industries

• Image courtesy of www.buffalocoin.com

Wind Industry Cluster DevelopmentCGT Industries, Investors, Education, Laboratory, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Support development of CURI’s

Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility

• Help locate existing and new wind cluster businesses in Charleston

• Deploy offshore wind turbine generators to benefit city and region

Sustainability Marketing and Communications PlanEducation, Carbon Reduction Strategies

• Objectives:• Provide citizens and businesses

of the city access to the tools and resources required to live a more sustainable lifestyle

• Increase public awareness of city’s sustainability efforts

Thank You!

Please raise your hands for comments or questions