Buffalo Rising Online

Mar 25th, 11:18am By Great Lakes United

Regional and national economies are continually in a transitional phase. From the manufacturing and industrial past to an increasingly service-oriented base, our economy is poised to change into new directions. Innovative forces from all aspects of the economy are beginning to see the ecological and fiscal importance of sustainable methods. There are opportunities in every sector- from small shops to international industry- to be part of a ‘green economy’.

On the morning of Saturday, March 15th, myself and several other dozen individuals representing community groups, alternative energy companies, and other organizations concerned with the future green economy in Western New York meet to discuss how we can began to tap into our potential.

Buffalo’s Green Gold Brainstorming Session was held to assist Green Gold enhance the application of sustainability locally, by promoting sustainable business practices, renewable energy technologies, green building design, creative governmental policy and brownfield redevelopment. The session featured detailed discussions about how green business can occur specifically in energy production, food production, natural resource protection, housing, and other sectors of the economy. The entire group and topic specific groups highlighted the assets, deficits, and opportunities of our regional and local economies. From these discussions, a road map has begun to take form. Examples from the discussion in the Natural Resource Group, which I participated in, included using vacant land as tree nurseries and the ‘daylighting’ (resurfacing streams that have been tunneled underground) of Scajaquada Creek. Other groups focused on issues such as Energy Production and Material Reuse. .

The goal of this brainstorming session appeared to be preparation for an upcoming April 12th Green Economy Summit hosted by Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, and more broadly to move our economy to a more ecologically and economically sustainable place. The organizers and participants feel that developing a green economy should not be separate from other economic initiatives. Every sector, from farming and transportation to retail and tax preparation, can become more sustainable. It is important that everyone, from the small business owner purchasing locally produced, environmentally friendly products to a new warehouse being constructed with recycled building materials and passive solar design, participate in these meetings. By bringing together creative and dedicated individuals from many different professions, creative solutions can be made to help our Western New York economy, and community, move in a more sustainable direction.

To find out more about Green Gold and their initiatives click here.

To register for the April 12th Green Economy Summit being held on the Buffalo State campus, go here.

(This post is a report by Nate Drag about Buffalo’s Green Gold Development Corporation Brainstorming Session that was held on March 15th. To see a post with more details on the session, click here.)