Woodbridge Sentinel
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer
Because of its green efforts, Woodbridge Township won the first-ever Sustainable Jersey Champion Award.
The award recognizes municipalities that have scored the most points in the Sustainable Jersey certification program in three population categories — small (0- 5,000), medium (5,000 to 50,000) and large (50,000-plus).
Woodbridge, which has 100,000-plus residents, won in the large category, Ocean City in Cape May County and the City of Summit in Union County tied in the medium category, and Woodbine Borough in Cape May County won in the small category.
The cities, townships and boroughs will be officially recognized at an awards luncheon held by the New Jersey League of Municipalities on Nov. 17.
“Woodbridge Township is pleased to accept the Sustainability Champion Award and will continue to set the pace as a statewide leader in green environmental and sustainable initiatives,” said Mayor John E. McCormac. “It is important that government lead the way in sustainable efforts. If we are to provide our children with a secure future, we must start now to better manage the ways we use energy and other natural resources at work and home.”
Randall Solomon, executive director of the New Jersey Sustainable State Institute and Sustainable Jersey program partner, applauded each of the winners.
“These awards recognize the top towns that have made the most progress across the 43 action categories of the Sustainable Jersey program,” he said.
The categories, Randall said, include improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, smart land use and transportation, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources, addressing diversity and equity, and more.
Donna Drewes, of the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey and a partner with the Sustainable Jersey program, said the winners represent “the pioneers that are making extraordinary contributions toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey and world.”
William Dressel Jr., executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, agreed.
“Woodbridge Township, along with the winners in the other categories, represents the best of the best,” he said.
New Jersey is the first state in the nation have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives and a fully resourced program of technical support and training.
Fred Profeta, Maplewood’s deputy mayor for the environment and chair of the New Jersey Mayors Committee for a Green Future, said that over 240 municipalities in all 21 counties registered with Sustainable Jersey and declared their intent to become certified.
“The response to the Sustainable Jersey program has exceeded our expectations,” he said. WoodbridgeTownship, through itsGreenable Woodbridge program led by Township Chief of Staff Caroline Ehrlich, has held visioning meetings on building a sustainable green community.
The township gained its points for its Sustainable Jersey certification with its purchase of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles for the municipal fleet, the $5 million project to install energy-producing solar panels on municipal buildings, the creation of a green business recognition program, the designation of Woodbridge as a Mayor’s Wellness community, and the designation of a 106-acre development of a state-of-the-art Enviro-Technology incubator and industrial park in Sewaren.
Other items include the development of educational and instructional programs promoting green technology and sustainable programs for schools, community associations and local businesses, opening a modern and efficient recycling and bulk waste Convenience Center at the Public Works facility in Keasbey, the installation of solar-powered decorative street lights and trash compactors along primary thoroughfares and pedestrian crosswalks at high traffic intersections, and promoting “buy local” campaign initiatives.
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