The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia is an organization that we love. They do a great job connecting Philly-area social entrepreneurs, and they throw excellent educational parties. We just heard about their next one, and we thought we'd pass the info along. If you're in the area and interested in water conservation or urban infrastructure, send Kate an email....
We are pleased to announce that we are releasing the next chapter of the Emerging Industries Project on Wednesday March 10, 2010.
Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Sector Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure is extremely timely given the changes that are underway at the Philadelphia Water Department. First, PWD has just begun to unveil its new billing structure that will charge commercial property owners for the property's percentage of impervious surface, as opposed to water usage. Commercial prop-erty owners will have to convert their properties in order to reduce their bill. Second, PWD has submitted a proposal to the US Environmental Protection Agency that proposes to transform 1/3 of all Philadelphia's impervious cover to porous cover, requiring a $1.6 billion investment. That $1.6 billion, however, will be spent on municipal projects; another 55% of projects will have to occur on privately owned properties.
The paper's author, SBN Policy Fellow Sarah E. Francis, provides great background on the history of water in Philadelphia, outlines the variety of green infrastructure projects, compares Philadelphia's project to Portland's model, and provides tangible recommendations for jumpstarting private sector investment and growing businesses that provide these services regionally.
Please join us on Wednesday, March 10 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM at United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1294.
Seating is limited, please RSVP to kate@sbnphiladelphia.org by 5:00PM Monday.
To learn more about the stormwater crisis in many American cities and PWD's proposal to the EPA, check out the articles below.
As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways
City's 'All Green' Stormwater Plan Raises Eyebrows at EPA
A "Green" City Plan to Reduce Storm Water Runoff
We are pleased to announce that we are releasing the next chapter of the Emerging Industries Project on Wednesday March 10, 2010.
Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Sector Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure is extremely timely given the changes that are underway at the Philadelphia Water Department. First, PWD has just begun to unveil its new billing structure that will charge commercial property owners for the property's percentage of impervious surface, as opposed to water usage. Commercial prop-erty owners will have to convert their properties in order to reduce their bill. Second, PWD has submitted a proposal to the US Environmental Protection Agency that proposes to transform 1/3 of all Philadelphia's impervious cover to porous cover, requiring a $1.6 billion investment. That $1.6 billion, however, will be spent on municipal projects; another 55% of projects will have to occur on privately owned properties.
The paper's author, SBN Policy Fellow Sarah E. Francis, provides great background on the history of water in Philadelphia, outlines the variety of green infrastructure projects, compares Philadelphia's project to Portland's model, and provides tangible recommendations for jumpstarting private sector investment and growing businesses that provide these services regionally.
Please join us on Wednesday, March 10 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM at United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1294.
Seating is limited, please RSVP to kate@sbnphiladelphia.org by 5:00PM Monday.
To learn more about the stormwater crisis in many American cities and PWD's proposal to the EPA, check out the articles below.
As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways
City's 'All Green' Stormwater Plan Raises Eyebrows at EPA
A "Green" City Plan to Reduce Storm Water Runoff
