Westport is one of the first Connecticut municipalities to achieve certification as a “Sustainable CT community,” First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today.
According to Marpe, the town met high standards “in a broad range of sustainability accomplishments to qualify for the prestigious bronze certification”
Sustainable CT is a statewide initiative that supports and recognizes sustainability actions by communities throughout the state. Launched last year, it announced its first group of certified towns this week.
Marpe said that in its application for certification, the town demonstrated “significant achievements in actions in nine sustainable impact areas ranging from thriving local economies and vibrant arts and culture to clean transportation and diverse housing.”
The town’s initiatives included the implementation of resources to support local businesses, arts and creative culture, transportation systems from zero emission vehicle chargers at Town Hall to public transportation.
It also included tracking energy usage, the Greenday sustainability event and a voluntary registry for people with disabilities, the announcement said.
“So much of what we do here in Westport is about being a sustainable community that is proactive to outside factors,” Marpe said, crediting his office and the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for the commitment to being Net Zero by 2050.
“As the first Connecticut town to pass a legislative resolution to this commitment, I am pleased that Westport can be recognized for all that we do to be prepared for the next generation,” Maroe said.
“Congratulations to our Green Task Force for completing the application and to the many town staff, nonprofit organizations and other volunteers who have worked diligently to implement the policies and procedures that made this award possible,” he added.
Lynn Stoddard, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University, which administers the program, lauded communities that made the grade.
“We are inspired by your leadership and eager to share your accomplishments in building efficient, thriving and resilient communities,” she said.
Sustainable CT was developed under the leadership of the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University. The program is independently funded with support from three state philanthropic foundations.
For further information, visit http://www.sustainablect.org.
