Year in Review: SSDN Members’ Best of 2021
Despite the obstacles brought to communities in Southeast during the second year of the pandemic, our members have continued to achieve innovative, collaborative, and equity-centered milestones in their sustainability and resilience goals. We are so proud to support the critical work our members pursue every day. In addition to stories shared on our last Green Minds podcast episode of 2021, below are just some of our members' notable highlights from this year:
January
- Asheville Office of Sustainability engages BIPOC Communities on Climate Justice Initiative
- Asheville Office of Sustainability engages BIPOC Communities on Climate Justice Initiative
- Orange County, FL Launches First-of-its-Kind Five Year Sustainable Operations and Resilience Action Plan
February
- Columbia, SC Presented a Community Conversation on the Color of Law (led by Mayor Steve Benjamin)
- Wilmington Eyes 100% Renewable energy, Electric Fleet by 2050
- Columbia, SC Presented a Community Conversation on the Color of Law (led by Mayor Steve Benjamin)
- Wilmington Eyes 100% Renewable energy, Electric Fleet by 2050
March
- City of Orlando Launches Green Building Incentive Program for Developers
- Atlanta Creates the Nation's Largest Free Food Forest
- City of Orlando Launches Green Building Incentive Program for Developers
- Atlanta Creates the Nation's Largest Free Food Forest
April
- Charleston, SC Finalizes 2021 Climate Action Plan
- Chattanooga, TN Partners with Electric Power Board on Collaborative Microgrid Project
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Knoxville Utility Board (KUB) Work with the City of Knoxville to Make Knoxville No. 1 in the Southeast for Solar Investment
- Charleston, SC Finalizes 2021 Climate Action Plan
- Chattanooga, TN Partners with Electric Power Board on Collaborative Microgrid Project
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Knoxville Utility Board (KUB) Work with the City of Knoxville to Make Knoxville No. 1 in the Southeast for Solar Investment
- Town of Chapel Hill, NC Adopts Climate Action and Response Plan
May
- City of New Orleans Announces Expansion of AmeriCorps VISTA Program
- City of Charlotte Introduces Green Public Transit System
- City of New Orleans Announces Expansion of AmeriCorps VISTA Program
- City of Charlotte Introduces Green Public Transit System
June
- Orange County, FL Kicks Off Sustainable Materials Management Master Plan Study
July
- Funding Student-Led Sustainability Projects at Virginia Tech
- What the $1 Trillion Senate Infrastructure Investment Means for Louisiana
July
- Funding Student-Led Sustainability Projects at Virginia Tech
- What the $1 Trillion Senate Infrastructure Investment Means for Louisiana
- Fulton County, GA Receives National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for Government Resiliency
- Orange County Awards $13 million for 500+ High Performance and Energy Efficient Housing Units by 2023
- City of Winston-Salem, NC Acquires $125,000 for the First Solar Installations on City Property
August
- Raleigh & Durham, NC: Urban Heat Mapping Project Aims To Address Race-Based Policies
- EV Readiness Code passes Orlando City Council
September
- Chattanooga Recognized for Excellence in Green Leadership
- Atlanta Passes Equity-Centered Urban Farm Direct Sales Ordinance
- City of Charlotte Named LEED Gold City in Partnership with Bank of America
August
- Raleigh & Durham, NC: Urban Heat Mapping Project Aims To Address Race-Based Policies
- EV Readiness Code passes Orlando City Council
September
- Chattanooga Recognized for Excellence in Green Leadership
- Atlanta Passes Equity-Centered Urban Farm Direct Sales Ordinance
- City of Charlotte Named LEED Gold City in Partnership with Bank of America
- Orange County, FL Launches $100 million Land Acquisition Initiative to Preserve 23,000 Acres of Sensitive Land
October
- Miami-Dade County, FL Releases Climate Action Strategy
- Athens-Clarke County, GA Government Named One of "Clean 13" by Georgia Water Coalition
- Cooper Administration Proposes Bill to Fund and Protect Nashville’s Tree Canopy
October
- Miami-Dade County, FL Releases Climate Action Strategy
- Athens-Clarke County, GA Government Named One of "Clean 13" by Georgia Water Coalition
- Cooper Administration Proposes Bill to Fund and Protect Nashville’s Tree Canopy
- City of Durham, NC Completes Carbon Neutrality & Renewable Energy Action Plan
- Selection of Metropolitan Library as Fulton County, GA's first Resilience Hub
- Orange County, FL and City of Orlando Join as Founding Signers for Orlando Utilities Commission 100% Solar Pledge
- Fulton County, GA Board of Commissioner’s Passes Resolution Supporting Small Farms and Urban Agriculture
November
- Virginia Beach Receives Award for Government Energy Efficiency PSA Video
- City of Miami Adopts Miami Forever Carbon Neutral Plan- Orange County Approves and Launches Backyard Chicken Ordinance Program
- Orange County, FL Approves Commercial PACE Ordinance
- Orange County, FL Launches economic Diversification Initiative with an Energy and Environment Cluster Focus
- City of Miami Adopts Miami Forever Carbon Neutral Plan- Orange County Approves and Launches Backyard Chicken Ordinance Program
- Orange County, FL Approves Commercial PACE Ordinance
- Orange County, FL Launches economic Diversification Initiative with an Energy and Environment Cluster Focus
- Town of Chapel Hill, NC recognized by CDP/ICLEI as ‘A List’ City
December
- Sarasota, FL Leads in Climate Resilience & Equity Training with National League of Cities
- EPA Announces $275 Million WIFIA Loan to Improve Water Infrastructure in New Orleans
- Nashville's MetroConnect Gives Tours of City Projects to Government Employees
- Fulton County, GA Completes Phase 1 Solar Energy Procurement Agreement and Seven Solar Installations
