On March 14, engineers, architects, government administrators, scientists and others will be meeting in Buffalo to discuss and promote what it means to be green in Buffalo. The gathering will center around the need to prepare for, fund and create green infrastructure projects.
Following both local and national trends, and the need to increase the size and number of green projects in the realm of land-use, transportation, energy, housing, etc., the Western New York Green Infrastructure Forum hopes to raise as many questions and eyebrows as possible. A city like Buffalo is perfect for all sorts of green initiatives, as we are still scratching the surface of residential conversions, public transportation potential, energy initiatives and land use issues. The forum attendees will also tackle water and air quality problems and opportunities, and how they impact quality of life (ultimately impacting all other issues).
Speakers with experience in developing green infrastructure include:
Matt Millea, Onondaga County deputy executive for physical services. He will deliver the keynote address focusing on the county’s “Save the Rain” program, which is a comprehensive stormwater management plan designed to reduce pollution in Onondaga Lake.
Robert Shibley, dean of UB’s School of Architecture and Planning. He will discuss an initiative called “One Region Forward,” a regional effort that focuses on sustainable planning in Western New York.
Jill Spisiak Jedlicka, executive director of the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. She will discuss how healthy waterways support tourism and recreation-based economies.
Alan Rabideau, professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering at UB. He will discuss Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange, a UB-led initiative that helps restore damaged ecosystems including the former nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in West Valley, N.Y.
*Forum will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Clinical and Translational Research Center, 875 Ellicott St., in Buffalo. Due to the nature of the subject matter, the event has already reached capacity. Hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the University at Buffalo.
