Sustainability Manager Retiring
Paula S. Thomas recently
announced her retirement from her position as Manager of the Office of
Sustainability for the City of Raleigh, effective February 28.
Thomas began
work for the City in 2008 as the sole sustainability staff member, tasked with
developing and managing a comprehensive sustainability program for Raleigh.
During her six-year tenure, she created the Office of Sustainability that
provides guidance for policy development, and goal setting for the City of Raleigh.
Thomas’ leadership and competency are
evident in many of the City’s major sustainability projects completed under her
management, including development of the electric vehicle infrastructure, management
of the City’s first Green House Gas Inventory and Climate Energy Action Plan, creation
of the Sustainable Purchasing Policy, development of the Clean Energy Economic
Development Strategy, among others.
Most recently, Raleigh was included among
the inaugural 20 U.S. cities for the STAR Community Rating System, the
nation’s first framework and certification program for local sustainability. (more)
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Dix Property Agreement Paves Way for Destination Park
State
and municipal leaders tentatively agreed to a deal that would sell the Dorothea
Dix property to the City of Raleigh for the proposed price of $52 million. The agreement
allows for the creation of a destination park on the site of the 307-acre
property, which contains the Dorothea Dix Hospital. The site has primarily
served as a mental health treatment facility since 1856.
The sustainability benefits, although not central to the deal, are evident.
“A centrally located urban park in Downtown Raleigh will spur economic
development and provide open space and recreational opportunities for residents
and visitors,” said Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane at the January 12 press event
announcing the deal. (more)
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Talking Food at the 2015 Environmental Awards
If you want advice about corporate
technology, strategy and policy, ask Michael Tiemann, vice president of open source affairs at Red Hat. If you want to know about
the importance of sustainable food systems in our local communities, come hear
Tiemann’s keynote address at the City of Raleigh Environmental Awards celebration. The free event is April 22 at the NC Museum of
Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh. Open to the public, the event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. with awards ceremony following from 7–9.
Tiemann has served on the Board
of Advisors of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) since 2006,
using his entrepreneurial open-source experience to help transform CEFS from a
respected academic partnership to a national leader in sustainable food-systems
practices and policies.
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Deadline to Nominate an Environmental Hero Nears
February 13 is the deadline to
nominate an individual or organization for a City of Raleigh Environmental
Award, recognizing outstanding work in environmental stewardship in our
community.
Awards are given in 12 categories, including the Raleigh
Environmental Stewardship Award (RESA) and the Emerging Professional video
Public Service Announcement awards for high school and college students. Nomination application forms are available on City’s website or by calling the Raleigh
Office of Sustainability at 919-996-3070.
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