Arizona’s Largest County Goes Green
County governments have begun to set comprehensive environmental policies, and Arizona’s largest county, Maricopa (9200 sq/mi) is expected to adopt a program of green initiatives tomorrow. The county would, among other things, plant garden roofs on its buildings and require the use of solar energy or other renewable resources in the design of most new county buildings. County workers would rely more on electronics, less on paper and less on travel.
Although the main objective is to save taxpayers money, Maricopa County is also considering environmental programs because it also must husband its resources.
Counties around the country have passed a flurry of environmental initiatives this year, ranging from recycling paint to encouraging the use of wind power. In Maryland, Montgomery County approved a program allowing residents to save by signing up for wind energy. Maricopa’s initiative is small by comparison, involving only 10 of the county’s 53 departments.
