Greening Efforts Struggle to Convince the Stubborn

Communities are looking at ways to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but they're struggling to combat local opposition.

1 minute read

February 8, 2008, 7:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"For decades, Arlington County's development has been consciously clustered around its subway line. There is abundant open space to plant thousands of trees. Residents also seem eager to cut back on their own energy use."

"But even in Arlington, county officials are reckoning with the fact that though green is the dream, the shade of civic achievement is closer to olive drab. Constraints on budgets, legal restrictions by states, and people's unwillingness to change sometimes put brakes on ambitious plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions."

"Emissions are stubborn things. In Arlington, emissions per capita are now 15 tons annually and rising. In Sonoma County, Calif., the figure is close to nine tons. Arlington is not alone in bumping up against obstacles."

FULL STORY: In Many Communities, It’s Not Easy Going Green

Thursday, February 7, 2008 in The New York Times

Energy Environment Social / Demographics United States

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