You see it in the headlines, hear it in the office and wonder about it in your own life. Concerns over climate change and living “green” are no longer reserved for a small segment of society. While it may seem like a new topic, in Sacramento County, we have been working for years to develop more sustainable business practices for ourselves and others in the community.

Since 1999, our landfill has operated a gas-to-energy program that produces enough electricity to power 9,000 homes. Sacramento’s Business Environmental Resource Center has been providing free assistance since 1993 to businesses trying to navigate through various environmental regulations. In 2002, we began transitioning our garbage trucks from diesel-fueled to a fleet powered by cleaner Liquefied Natural Gas. Through our partnership with the U.C. Master Gardeners, we’ve held workshops on eco-friendly gardening. And we’re leading the way with an aggressive business recycling program.

Many of the best ideas about how a local government can combat climate change come from other agencies facing the same challenges. To expand our knowledge of new opportunities, Sacramento has joined many of the premier organizations aimed at educating our county staff on best practices, and helping us learn how to share that knowledge. Our current memberships in leading national organizations include:

• California Climate Action Registry
• Chicago Climate Exchange
• Climate Communities
• Local Governments for Sustainability

2008 will see Sacramento County embark upon its most ambitious efforts yet to combat climate change. We look forward to meeting the challenge.