Three cheers for Fayetteville!

I was pleasantly surprised to read an interesting article by the Fayetteville Observer regarding the town's growth. The city is planning a series of eight meetings to discuss cutting carbon dioxide emissions and reducing sprawl. Through the help of a local retired surgeon (Menno Pennink), activists in the city have formed a group called Fayetteville Area Citizens for Transformation and Sustainability. According to Pennink:

"...the main thing that must be accomplished is changing people’s minds and mindsets about the environment and how a community uses its natural resources."

Very well said. But just how do they plan to do this? Well, for starters they've enlisted the help of their mayor who is trying to secure funds for "cities and urban counties to improve energy efficiency, find alternative energy sources and develop ways to reduce carbon emissions." In addition, they are looking to work with other environmental groups in their community like Sustainable Sandhills.

It's great to see a local community taking such an active, vested interest in energy conservation. Especially since our state ranks 46th for investments in energy efficiency! (In fact, check out our current campaign on finding a better way for NC's energy future!)

What other communities are working hard like Fayetteville to address the issue of energy conservation?