[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 70 (Tuesday, June 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE GREEN ALBANY PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Green Albany Project, 
which, in partnership with the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the City of 
Albany, Alameda County Waste Management, and Stopwaste.org has 
successfully completed its goal of ``greening'' the small business 
district in Albany, California, making it the first project in the 
nation in which a chamber of commerce has taken the lead in an effort 
such as this.
  The Green Albany Project was launched on Earth Day 2005 as a 
collaborative effort of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the City of 
Albany, and Stopwaste.org under the leadership of James Carter. Upon 
receipt of a grant from Stopwaste.org, the Albany Green Team was 
assembled, comprised mostly of local youth from Albany High School and 
the surrounding community. The Albany Green team then began a yearlong 
outreach effort, working to contact and educate local business owners 
on the economic and environmental benefits of going green.
  With the help of Stopwaste.org, Alameda County Waste Management, 
Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Keith Carson, and in 
collaboration with Smartlights, East Bay MUD, and other programs, the 
Albany Green Team has succeeded in helping 26 businesses in Albany, 
which is most of the local small business district, to green their 
operations and in turn, green our community. In so doing, the Green 
Albany Project has successfully diverted 150 tons of solid waste from 
landfills through its work to implement composting practices at local 
businesses, and it is projected that an additional 290 tons will be 
diverted in the year to come.
  The Green Albany Project celebrates this success only one year after 
its launch, and furthermore, having achieved its objectives under 
budget, will be returning money to the county for use in propelling 
other worthwhile projects forward.
  In addition, this project would not have been possible without the 
support of the small business owners in Albany, who are a crucial 
driving force behind our local and regional economies, and who have 
provided an immeasurable service to the community by implementing these 
new green systems with the help of the Albany Green Team.
  The Green Albany Project is an outstanding example of steps that our 
communities can take to address the national and global challenge of 
developing sustainable practices in a time of diminishing natural 
resources.
  The Green Albany Project has not only made history as the first 
project of its kind to be completed in our country, but has 
demonstrated to businesses throughout California's 9th Congressional 
District and across our country that going green is not only possible 
but profitable.
  On behalf of the residents of California's 9th U.S. Congressional 
District, I join the Albany community on this 5th day of June, 2006 in 
saluting and thanking the Albany Green Team, the Albany Chamber of 
Commerce, the City of Albany, Stopwaste.org, Alameda County Waste 
Management, the Albany small businesses that have made the decision to 
go green, and all the other partners who have made the Green Albany 
Project a success. Their work has contributed immeasurably to 
California's 9th Congressional District, to the entire Bay Area and to 
our country, and represents an important step forward in the 
international effort to establish environmentally and economically 
sustainable ways of living here in our community and around the world.

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