Partnership could lead to green
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
8/1/2009

A partnership with several state entities may lead Cherry Hill Township into the lap of a sizable grant from the Environment Protection Agency. Cherry Hill has crafted a grant proposal – with several other state entities – for the EPA’s “Climate Showcase Communities” grant program, which will award nearly 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

Partnered with Montclair, Highland Park, the Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Rutgers University, and the College of New Jersey, township representatives believe the municipality has a “competitive” shot at receiving money.

“We believe we’ll be highly competitive throughout the country with this application. We’ve created the 10-point blueprint that the EPA will take into consideration,” said Communications Director Dan Keashen.

Cherry Hill has been following its 10-point green plan blueprint since it was approved in March 2008. The plan combines the use of renewable energy, strict conservation and incentive-based recycling to make Cherry Hill a sustainable community, representatives said. It was through this blueprint that the township initiated its RecyleBank program and solar power system installed on top of the township municipal building.

The overall goal of the grant program, according to the EPA, is to generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while improving the environmental, economic, public health or social conditions in a community.

“The essence of this grant program is that local governments are uniquely suited to implement job-generating programs and projects that will reduce energy consumption and improve alternative transit options,” Mayor Bernie Platt said. “I firmly believe that the shift toward sustainability we must make as a global community must start in the local communities. Becoming a Climate Showcase Community would further our effort to effect change at home, while setting an example for other municipalities across the country.”

The grant funding could come in January, township representatives have revealed. If the township and its partners are awarded the grant they would establish and execute replicable sustainability incentive and outreach programs aimed at changing the behavior of businesses, residents and the local government in ways that support New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act. The act set goals to reduce production of greenhouse gas emissions in the state to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050.

The EPA will offer peer exchange, training, and technical support to grant recipients, and encourage replication across the country to promote the creation of sustainable climate-management programs.

By teaming with several other entities, Keashen said the township believes it has a better chance to receive the grant funding.

“Our chances are considerably better to secure funding because of the unique nature of the application. Instead of one singular entity applying, we’re joining forces with several other large entities to make it more of a statewide application,” he said.

Municipalities that are awarded the grant, representatives from Cherry Hill said, will set aggressive goals and high profile targets for energy and greenhouse-gas reductions in various sectors, working with the state and Sustainable Jersey to develop and implement programs that will result in residents and businesses adopting more sustainable and energy efficient practices.

Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash also sent a letter on the township’s behalf to the EPA, encouraging the organization to award the grant to the unique partnership.

“Additionally, I applaud the unique effort that will be put forth by a variety of public agencies working hand-in-hand to make our communities stronger and cleaner through the robust efforts of local governments,” Nash wrote.

“I believe the federal government’s role as a facilitator of funds for this project will be well invested in Cherry Hill, as they have already shown great leadership on this issue and have been pointed to as a statewide model to preserve our environment.”