This ordinance outlines the requirements for city compost collection. It provides guidelines for vendors concerning acceptable compost and recyclables hauling practices. It creates special zones within municipal limits for the disposal of compostable matter as well as an equitable and manageable schedule of compost collection.

This ordinance mandates minimum blends of biodiesel and ethanol in petroleum-based fuels sold in Portland and requires city-owned vehicles to maximize use of renewable fuels.

This ordinance bans the use of single use plastic bags by retail stores in the city. Paper bags may be used, but they must contain a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled paper fiber and the customer will be charged a fee for their use.

This ordinance prohibits stores from providing single use plastic carryout bags to customers. The ordinance specifies that stores can only offer recyclable paper carryout bags for a 10 cent charge to the customer. Furthermore, stores must report monthly the number of recyclable bags sold to customers, the monies generated from such sales, and any efforts the store has undertaken to promote the use of reusable bags.

This report is based on the results of a scientific, national phone survey of 555 owners of small businesses (2 to 99 employees) conducted in June 2014. The survey found that clear majorities of small business owners are concerned about how climate change will affect their companies, including its impact on energy costs, health care costs and the infrastructure they depend on. Survey respondents voiced strong support for government action to address climate change, specifically, efforts to limit carbon pollution from power plants which produce a third of all U.S. carbon emissions. Significantly, a plurality (43%) of business owners surveyed self- identified as either Republican or Republican-leaning Independent.

The Solar Incentive Program (SIP) is the most established rooftop solar program in the City of Los Angeles. It originated at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in 2000 with a $150 million investment to incentivize the poliferation of rooftop solar in Los Angeles. With the passage of Senate Bill 1 (2007), the SIP was revised to comply with state law. The updated, 10 year, $313 million program, subsidizes photovoltaic solar panel installation for residential, commercial, non-profit, and governmental customers. This research identifies the geographic reach the program over the past 15 years through analysis of data that is available on DWP’s website and US Census data.

The Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative, of which Policy Matters Ohio is a member, has released case studies examining the impacts of shale oil and gas drilling on four active drilling communities — Carroll County, Ohio; Greene and Tioga counties, Pennsylvania; and Wetzel County, West Virginia.

Small fees will be placed on disposable bags. Disposable bags require energy and natural resources to be produced and cause pollution. The policy can help reduce the usage of disposable bags to reduce pollution. Simultaneously, the tax obtained raises the fund for environmental effort.

Key elements of feed-in rates and CLEAN contracts include cost-based, standardized contracts that are long term, which allows developers to secure project financing. Incentives for local ownership, hiring of local workers, and use of locally made products can help ensure that these approaches help grow the local economy.

Green building is steadily becoming one of the fastest growing sectors within the American economy. The business case for high performance buildings is being made by both Fortune 100 companies and small businesses, along with local, state and federal governments.