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Tampa Shows It Colors: A Green And Gold City

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2009

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has taken some hits from some city council members from not being sufficiently green, particularly during the city's recent discussion of renewing its franchise agreement with TECO.

Several members wanted the administration to demand tougher environmental policies in the agreement, which establishes how much the utility pays for using the city's rights of way for power lines.

The mayor and the council majority understood that federal and state regulators were responsible for those requirements.

But if Iorio has not been one to grandstand on such matters, she knows the city has been striving for years to be clean and efficient.

And Tampa is making notable progress, something for which Iorio, past administrations and council deserve credit.

Last month the Florida Green Building Coalition gave Tampa a "gold" designation as a "green local government." Only three other Florida local governments have won that designation, which evaluates energy use, water conservation, air quality, health issues, land use and waste practices. Orange and Sarasota counties and the city of Tallahassee also have been given the gold designation.

Among the city's practices praised by the coalition's audit:

• Using alternative energy, both at the McKay Bay Refuse-To-Energy facility and the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Curren uses the methane gas produced in the filtering process to help power the plant. The city also uses ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in its fleet vehicles.

•Installing LED traffic signals, which dramatically reduce power consumption and are expected to save the city about $840,000 a year. Using energy efficient lighting at sports fields. The city also conducted an energy audit of 500 city structures in an effort to make them as efficient as possible.

•Storing water in the aquifer. Water is pumped underground during the rainy season to be retrieved during dry months.

•Using reclaimed water and offering water audits to residents to promote efficient water use.

•Requiring that city-funded construction or renovation of buildings comply with national energy efficient standards.

•Overhauling the stormwater system to reduce flooding and pollution.

•Pursuing restoration of shoreline or habitat in 30 parks. The city's tree-care ordinance and other protections meet national standards.

There is a lot of talk about the need for the more sustainable use of resources. And to hear some gloomy environmentalists talk, you would think the situation is hopeless.

But, as Tampa's record shows, impressive improvements are being made. Sure, there's more to do. But anyone who claims Tampa is ignoring the environment isn't paying attention to its actions.

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