Eastgate urges support of Green Pact

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

Several Trumbull County communities already have signed the Green Pact.

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s not just about the environment; it’s about saving money.

That’s the theme underlying Eastgate Regional Council of GovernmentsSSRq proposal to communities to sign or support a regional Green Pact.

The pact urges government officials to consider the environmental impact of their decisions, but does not obligate them under law to any restrictions.

“The language is soft, and the communities that sign are saying that they support these goals,” said Rachel McCartney of Eastgate.

Eastgate is an entity that distributes funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation, state infrastructure agencies and federal highway systems to local projects.

“The perception can be that signing it will cost the communities money, which is false,” McCartney said. “But if they do take the steps listed in the pact, in the long run, they will actually save.”

The Green Pact addresses issues such as encouraging the purchase of recycled products in administrative buildings, reducing waste and lowering emissions from government vehicles.

Several Trumbull County communities have signed or passed resolutions in support of the Green Pact and some, like Liberty Township, already had an environmental program in place.

“We have an environmental action committee to review things that we’ve accomplished and to look at new projects,” said Trustee Jodi Stoyak.

One improvement that Stoyak thinks will make a big difference, and is aligned with Green Pact goals, is the township’s decision to have just one trash company.

“There will only be one truck once a week so emissions are reduced, and there’s free recycling that residents don’t even have to sort — just put it all in a recycling bucket — so the amount of trash will be reduced, too,” she said.

Stoyak added that in many administrative buildings, incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with compact fluorescent lights, which need to be replaced less frequently than the old bulbs.

An electric company estimated that it would cost $20,000 for the township to replace all the light bulbs, install automated lighting and regulate water flow in administrative buildings. Each year, there would be a savings of $10,000 from electric and water bills, so the improvements would pay for themselves in two years, Stoyak said.

“After that two-year period, we’re saving taxpayer dollars by the thousands,” she said, adding that the township is slowly making these improvements to avoid such a large initial cost.

Howland trustees passed a resolution supporting the Green Pact and already have asked all township departments to develop fuel consumption plans.

“We not only want to be a greener community, but we want to save the residents’ money,” said Trustee Rick Clark.

In July, Howland began a communitywide recycling program at no charge to the residents that was “very well-received” and will reduce the trash in the landfill, Clark said.

After the Green Pact is adopted, Eastgate will follow up with communities and have workshops to address any barriers that they’ve encountered to making their areas greener, McCartney said.

“In 2007, the federal energy bill created a block of grants, and there’s $2 billion available for state and local governments to use to make energy-efficient improvements,” she said.

McCartney is planning to take the Green Pact proposal to Mahoning County communities as well.

“Our goal is to help create a regional economy that is sustainable in meeting current needs without compromising the natural resources future generations have an inherent right to,” she added.

aluthern@vindy.com