March 29,
2009 from Johnson City Press "Progress Edition"
As an outstanding role model in environmental and energy conservation,
the long-term success and commitment of Johnson City were recognized
with the first ever 2008 Tennessee Municipal League Green City
Leadership Award, presented last June during TML's annual conference
at Memphis' Cook Convention Center.
Vice-Mayor Jane Myron accepted the award on behalf
of the City.
For more than 15 years, Johnson City has been at
the forefront of numerous environmental services and award winning
programs, awarded "Project of the Year" by the Environmental
Protection Agency and earning the Governor's Stewardship Award for
their "Gas to Energy" participation program which removes
8,344 tons of methane gas and 20,617 tons of carbon dioxide from
the environment each year.
Investigating alternative energy resources, the
city is currently studying the use of wind power to generate electricity
for municipal facilities.
Johnson City began their quest for a cleaner environment
in 1990, implementing a first in the state, curbside recycling program.
Coupled with a yard-waste recycling service, Johnson City diverted
21,535 tons of waste from their municipal landfill this year alone.
The landfill, Iris Glen, has been an environmentally sound model
for 15 years, in both construction and technology.
Citizens are enjoying the convenience of the e-waste
recycling program and the Household Waste and Spring Cleanup days
allowing them to dispose of waste items properly at central locations,
while the city enjoys significant savings by growing their own plants
and shrubbery in the municipal greenhouse.
As the first city in Northeast Tennessee to convert
its fleet to biodiesel, Johnson City is also adding more hybrids
to its city fleet, with electric buses utilized for its public transportation
program. City staff also do their part to contribute to the energy
savings by turning off unused lights, opening or closing blinds
in the winter and summers, using energy saving light bulbs, carpooling,
and eliminating unnecessary vehicle idling.
All of these efforts contribute to forming a “green city,”
a designation Johnson City can be proud of.
Each year the Tennessee Municipal League honors cities throughout
the state for overall excellence, improvement, specific outstanding
programs, or department accomplishments.
The Tennessee Municipal League is a voluntary, cooperative organization
established by the cities and towns of the state for mutual assistance
and improvements. The League’s primary function is to advocate
on behalf of city governments. TML works with the Tennessee General
Assembly promoting legislation helpful to cities and opposing legislation
harmful to cities.
