Menino: Beantown truly is Greentown

February 13, 2008 03:50 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

Boston has been ranked the third greenest city in the United States because of its recycling program, public transportation, and a plan to generate electricity from yard clippings, according to a study that will appear in the March issue of Popular Science.

The study, which has been published on the magazine’s website, analyzed census data and government statistics in 30 categories for cities with more than 100,000 people. Out of 30 possible points, Boston scored 22.7, ranking just behind Portland, Ore., (23.1) and San Francisco (23.0).

Mayor Thomas M. Menino trumpeted Boston's third-place finish as evidence his administration has made the city an environment leader.

"Beantown truly is Greentown," Menino said in a statement. "Being green helps us build a better city and improve our economy at the same time. The success of Boston depends on us making the city greener."

Popular Science highlighted a preliminary plan in Boston to turn “50,000 tons of fall color into power and fertilizer.” According to the magazine: “The facility would first separate yard clippings into grass and leaves. Anaerobic bacteria feeding on the grass would make enough methane to power at least 1.5 megawatts’ worth of generators, while heat and agitation would hasten the breakdown of leaves and twigs into compost.”

A release from Menino’s office highlight other environmental plans for the city:

•Designing and implementing programs to increase recycling of all materials by 10 percent by 2012.
•Plans to plant 100,000 trees by 2020.
•Establishing a Climate Action Advisory Panel.
•Evaluating the feasibility of installing solar, wind, combined heat and power, and green roof installations.
•Requiring all new construction and major renovation of city facilities to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification.
•Requiring municipal departments to include a minimum of 11.7 percent of power-generated from renewable resources and that by 2012 at least 15 percent come from renewable sources.

What about Boston’s competition? Here is how Popular Science described Portland, Ore., the first place finisher: “America’s top green city has it all: Half its power comes from renewable sources, a quarter of the work force commutes by bike, carpool, or public transportation, and it has 35 buildings certified by the US Green Building Council.”