Mayor Adrian Fenty on Monday unveiled a pair of initiatives that the city hopes will raise awareness of environmentally friendly measures and, just as importantly, create jobs for District of Columbia residents.
The Green Collar Job Advisory Council, Fenty said, will coordinate a litany of government agencies, nonprofits and contractors to ensure that D.C. residents are prepared for the impending green building boom. Under D.C. law, all new government construction will have to be green as of 2008, and all new private sector buildings larger than 50,000 square feet must be built to high environmental standards as of 2012.
Investing in the environment, including job training, can bring thousands of new jobs and upward of $800 million in new revenue over the next decade, Fenty said.
On Sept. 18, the mayor announced, District and suburban commuters will be asked to leave their vehicles at home for Car-Free Day. The event is the brainchild of Ward 6 D.C. Council Member Tommy Wells, who arrived at Monday’s press conference on a Metrobus – with the mayor.
“It was a good option,” Wells said of the bus. “It’s a good option for all of our residents.”
