Raleigh Recognized for Green-ness

Raleigh has been named the winner in a national sustainability contest. The city took the top prize in the Siemens Sustainable Community Awards in the mid-size community category.

Raleigh beat out Pittsburgh and North Little Rock for the award. In the citation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised Raleigh’s efforts to cultivate a green economy. Raleigh has its own office of sustainability that manages a program that re-trains workers for jobs in the sustainable energy industry. Standing under the LED lights in his office, Mayor Charles Meeker was particularly pleased with one element of the award. That $20,000 is about two-thirds of the city’s annual budget for trees. North Carolina is the only southeastern state to win two Siemens sustainable community awards. Chapel Hill – Carrboro won in the same mid-sized category in 2008.

Charles Meeker: "Moreover, this award - unlike some other recognitions - actually comes with a very valuable component, that is we are being given $20,000 worth of trees for our Raleigh-woods program."

That $20,000 is about two-thirds of the city’s annual budget for trees. North Carolina is the only southeastern state to win two Siemens sustainable community awards. Chapel Hill – Carrboro won in the same mid-sized category in 2008.