An ordinance that requires that any residential development which shall generate more than 500 ADT (Average Daily Trips) shall be subject to a Community Impact Assessment review process and approval criteria are outlined in Section 18.55.090 of the Carbondale Municipal Code. For mixed use projects (commercial and residential), 1,000 ADT is required in order to have a development subject to Community Impact Assessment process.

This ordinance requires that new commercial and residential buildings or 'substantially improved' buildings to meet specific energy performance standards. The ordinance requires commercial and high rise residential structures between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet to meet basic LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, buildings equal to or larger than 50,000 square feet must meet the LEED Silver certification.

This report details how community leaders should help support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, they need to provide immediate relief to keep business afloat, such as helping small businesses apply for federal financial relief, creating local small business relief programs, and helping businesses negotiate with landlords to relieve rent pressure. Secondly, they must help businesses adapt and pivot to the new commercial landscape, by getting small, independently owned businesses online and helping them re-envision their business plans and strategies. Lastly, they should focus on fixing systemic problems that the pandemic has exposed, in order to level the playing field for small businesses in the years ahead.

Cities, counties, states, and community organizations have established more than 800 programs to provide financial assistance to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As these programs provided by local and state governments run out of funds, this report argues that additional federal funding towards these programs is needed to keep small businesses afloat.

Community solar, also called “shared solar”, creates local economic value. Residents save money on their monthly bills by subscribing to a “solar garden”––they reserve a share in a solar array located offsite, and the power generated by their solar panels shows up as a credit on their utility bill. Building solar gardens can also create local jobs, promote community climate resilience, and can reduce emissions from carbon-based electricity generation. While the economic, climate, and resilience benefits of community solar are compelling, the extent to which a community solar program drives equitable outcomes depends on its design. This report provides guidance for creating community solar programs that promote racial and economic equity.

A nation of renewable-powered, job-generating, self-reliant states is within reach – and necessary; improved renewable electricity technology would allow nearly every state to produce 100 percent of its electricity needs from local renewable sources. This report includes a series of maps that illustrate nationwide renewable electricity potential from a wide variety of sources, including rooftop solar, offshore wind, onshore wind, geothermal, and small hydro. Additionally, this report also includes maps that demonstrate how decreased energy intensity could offset increased electricity demand from high electrification.

Renewable energy serves as a viable solution to replace fossil fuel generation to create a healthier environment. A number of cities across the United States are pledging to reach community-wide goals of 100 percent renewable energy, in order to combat the social, environmental, and economic impacts of climate change; however, many of these cities are unsure of how to meet these commitments. The goal of this report is to utilize qualitative and quantitative data through a national survey and case studies to help understand the mechanisms that will best enable cities and their decision-makers to equitably transition to 100% renewable energy.

This report identifies the root causes of Baltimore’s failed and inequitable waste system, and how its impacts intersect with racial and economic justice. The Baltimore Sustainability Plan will enable the city to move towards a new system of fair development aligned with human rights principles anchored to a Zero Waste framework. This plan recognizes the challenges and opportunities towards meeting Baltimore’s Zero Waste goal and includes several initiatives to have a major shift towards expanding composting, making the city’s recycling program reliably and coventiently to all, while emphasizing Zero Waste opportunities to create local jobs.

Water main geothermal combines the efficiency and technical capability of ground-source geothermal in cold climates with costs competitive to fossil gas furnaces. This report shows that water main geothermal could provide a viable, cost-effective alternative to traditional home heating and cooling systems. Through it, homeowners would benefit from lower heating and cooling costs, water utilities would benefit from a new source of income, and cities would benefit from reaching their climate commitments.

Small, locally owned businesses are critical to creating thriving communities and an equitable U.S. economy. However, America’s small businesses are facing dire economic consequences, with many of them closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these circumstances, this report offers recommendations for community leaders to provide quick relief to keep businesses afloat, help businesses adapt, and fix systemic problems that the pandemic has laid bare.