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Sustainable Skylines brings cleaner air to Dallas
The City of Dallas has teamed up with EPA and North Central Texas Council of Governments to test a new initiative aimed at bringing cleaner air to the metro area.
“Sustainable Skylines gives cities a flexible framework to achieve real results that improve air quality for their residents,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “Dallas has been a leader among cities and now stands ready to be a model for the rest of the nation. We hope Dallas will be the first of many in Texas and beyond to make environmental sustainability an integral part of their city culture.”
Sustainable Skylines is a joint venture that involves completing several 3-year projects to reduce air emissions. The initiative is also expected to produce benefits to water and land quality. If the Dallas pilot is successful, the initiative could be used as a national model for other cities.
Under the Sustainable Skylines initiative, a city can choose to perform projects from seven categories: stationary sources/area sources, renewable energy/energy efficiency, central city livability, green buildings and developments, land-use transportation strategies, off-road emissions, and diesel emissions. Projects are expected to yield quantifiable benefits within three years.
The City of Dallas has committed to completing seven environmentally beneficial projects. Dallas was selected from a pool of multiple cities vying to field test the new initiative.
Some of the projects the City of Dallas plans to conduct under Sustainable Skylines include:
- Urban heat island and stormwater mitigation;
- Replacing existing fleets of taxis and rental cars with ultra-low or zero-emitting vehicles;
- Working with partners to construct highly energy-efficient, affordable homes;
- Completing a reduction strategy for energy-related emissions;
- Conducting education outreach within the Dallas Independent School District and business community to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency;
- Helping reduce air emissions from Dallas-area industries in conjunction with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s existing Site Assistance Visit+ Program; and
- Replacing small gasoline and diesel powered off-road equipment, such as lawn maintenance equipment and small utility vehicles, with electric powered equipment.