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Portland, Oregon
#1 Green City
Portland’s planners have been thinking green since the 1970s. It was that long ago that the city enacted strict land-use policies designed to preserve farmland and orient urban growth around compact neighborhoods served by public transport. Portland encourages mixed-use, energy-efficient buildings and bicycle commuting. It aims to be a “20-Minute City,” where residents spend 20 minutes or less traveling from home to work, shop or play.
Related article: A Model U.S. City Restricts Suburban Sprawl
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
San Francisco
#2 Green City; #8 Green-Collar Hub
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom aggressively leads the city toward environmentally friendly economic growth. The city has implemented the largest solar incentive program in America and tougher green-building standards and was the first in the nation to ban plastic bags at major grocery stores. San Francisco recycles, reuses or composts close to 70 percent of its trash and operates the most climate-friendly public transportation system in the country. The famed Silicon Valley nearby funds and develops job-creating, clean-technology ventures. All this happens in the state that has the toughest clean-energy and carbon dioxide-emissions standards.
Related article: San Francisco Seeks Partners in Push for Green Future.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings.
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Seattle
#3 Green City
Since 2005, Seattle has pursued an ambitious climate-change/renewable energy agenda, which calls for a 7 percent cut in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2013 (from 1990 levels). The city plans to achieve this goal by making residential areas denser, expanding a network of bicycle lanes, promoting energy-efficient lighting and working with local companies to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. In 2006, more than 90 percent of the city's energy supply came from renewable sources, and in 2008, its fleet of maintenance trucks began to run on biodiesel. Plans call for adding 500 hybrid buses to the city fleet over five years and beginning a light-rail service in 2009.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Chicago
#4 Green City; # 6 Green-Collar Hub
In the 1990s, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley created a controversy by planting a half-million trees, removing traffic lanes in favor of grassy medians, and bulldozing a downtown airport to make room for a 100-acre (40-hectare) park. Since then, initiatives such as encouraging energy-efficiency features in building renovations and drawing more electricity from solar sources have gained much broader acceptance. Rooftop gardens have become a well-known feature of Chicago buildings. The city also has become a host to the Chicago Climate Exchange, the country’s only major carbon dioxide trading exchange.
Related article: Chicago Derives Many Benefits from Green Buildings.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings.
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New York
#5 Green City; #1 Green-Collar Hub
In 2006, New York reported more than 26,000 “green-collar” jobs — jobs related to clean-energy projects. It pledges to generate 200,000 more by 2038. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled one of the country’s most comprehensive sustainability plans that commits the city to environmentally friendly and socially responsible policies. Composed of more than 100 initiatives, the plan calls for planting 1 million trees over 10 years, creating car-free recreation corridors and making sure that all city residents live within a 10-minute-walk of a park. The city’s per capita emissions are well below the national average. Nevertheless, the city plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Boston
#6 Green City; #5 Green-Collar Hub
An expanding cluster of high-tech and clean-tech startups in Boston thrives on the innovation emanating from more than a dozen local universities, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The city boasts the highest investment level in clean-tech venture capital after California. These investments create jobs and a market for clean-tech products and services such as safer chemicals in products or building insulation made from recycled paper. Boston’s city government is working on a citywide greenhouse-gas inventory and plans to increase recycling 10 percent by 2010. Municipal law requires “green-building certifications” for certain developments, the entire taxi fleet to comprise hybrid vehicles by 2015, and city buildings to be supplied with power and heat from renewable sources wherever possible.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Minneapolis
#7 Green City
In 2007, the city became the first in the country to award small grants to help neighborhoods engage residents to fight global warming. Within a year, the grants grew to $100,000. The Minneapolis municipal vehicle fleet includes two fully electric cars, 50 hybrids, and 250 flex-fuel and clean-diesel vehicles. A bike-and-pedestrian-only bridge, an educational and outreach bike-and-walk program, and a midtown center with bicycle parking and repair services make the city one of the most bicycle friendly in America, a remarkable distinction for a city with winter temperatures that rarely top 20 degrees Fahrenheit (about -7 degrees Celsius).
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Philadelphia
#8 Green City #7 Green-Collar Hub
Philadelphia’s international airport is powered by wind energy. Its old steel factories have been converted into wind turbine plants. A large number of its buildings and industrial facilities are heated by natural gas, which emits less greenhouse gases than coal. The city today is striving to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent below 1990 levels. More than a quarter of residents commute on public transport, and the city, having reduced its fleet, signed with PhillyCarShare, which allows its employees to borrow hybrid cars by the hour. Eighteen farmers markets and 465 community gardens make Philadelphia a leader in locally grown and organic food.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Oakland, California
#9 Green City
Oakland has adopted a “Zero Waste by 2020” plan as well as the end of reliance on oil by the same year and has banned plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout containers. It ranks high on utilizing or recycling its solid waste and draws more than 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources. Residents enjoy clean air, locally produced food and good public transport.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Baltimore
#10 Green City
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has introduced new green-building requirements, improved recycling, and committed the city to sustainability. Her plan includes a new zoning code that incorporates dense, transit-oriented development. The city has built more than 50 miles of bikeways and hopes to expand its light rail routes.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Washington
#2 Green-Collar Hub
The federal government has set energy-efficiency standards for its buildings and vehicle fleet. This will likely spark the growth of “green-collar jobs” in the nation’s capital. In 2007, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty launched an initiative to link worker-training programs to the growing demand for skilled labor in the green-economy sector.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Houston
#3 Green-Collar Hub
The oil capital of the world emits more carbon dioxide than any other major city in the nation. But in 2006, Texas surpassed California as the top wind farm state, and oil-industry veterans have been increasingly wooed by the wind-power sector.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Los Angeles
#4 Green-Collar Hub
Los Angeles benefits from statewide energy-efficiency policies, which are responsible for creating more than 1.5 million jobs. But L.A. acts on its own to add to the green-labor pool — it plans to create a green-business technology center in downtown by 2011.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
San Diego
#9 Green-Collar Hub
Solar panels pop up on homes and commercial buildings in Southern California as the state and cities aggressively promote solar energy. Solar power — considered an “economic powerhouse” — creates many job opportunities statewide. In 2008, a single event designed to inform workers how to train for new energy-related jobs drew close to 10,000 renewable energy professionals, entrepreneurs and job hunters.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings. -
Pittsburgh
#10 Green-Collar Hub
The city of Pittsburgh bets the “green sector” will resuscitate its economy in transition from old industrial structures. Local universities and nonprofit groups are engaged in creating jobs in energy-efficient building construction, high-performance metals, heating and cooling systems, biofuels, non-toxic cleaning products and waste disposal. The city boasts one of the country’s most innovative solar firms, Plextronics Inc.
Sources: Forbes’ list of America’s Hottest Green Job Markets, compiled from an October 2008 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm, and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings.
