Creating a Sustainable Future for Passaic County

Planning staff serve as a resource for the Energy and Sustainability Committee of the Board of County Commissioners, as well as for Passaic County municipalities, businesses, and residents striving to achieve sustainability. The Committee was established in 2006 to “review areas where the County can realize both economic savings and environmental benefits.”

The County seeks to support the efforts of municipal environmental commissions and green teams by providing professional environmental planning expertise and serving as a liaison to other government entities, nonprofit organizations, and regional agencies.

Within County operations, the Energy and Sustainability Committee is constantly introducing methods to become more sustainable with such actions as passing a Green Building Resolution in 2008, conducting energy audits of eight major county facilities in 2009, creating a purchasing cooperative for procuring electricity in 2010, and adopting a Green Fleets Policy in 2012.

Planning staff serve as a resource for the Energy and Sustainability Committee of the Board of County Commissioners, as well as for Passaic County municipalities, businesses, and residents striving to achieve sustainability. The Committee was established in 2006 to “review areas where the County can realize both economic savings and environmental benefits.”

The County seeks to support the efforts of municipal environmental commissions and green teams by providing professional environmental planning expertise and serving as a liaison to other government entities, nonprofit organizations, and regional agencies.

Within County operations, the Energy and Sustainability Committee is constantly introducing methods to become more sustainable with such actions as passing a Green Building Resolution in 2008, conducting energy audits of eight major county facilities in 2009, creating a purchasing cooperative for procuring electricity in 2010, and adopting a Green Fleets Policy in 2012. Now is the time for even greater action and implementation.

Passaic County Future: a Sustainability Element of the Passaic County Master Plan

The County recognized the need for a systematic approach to realize the most gains from our sustainability efforts, therefore, the Department of Planning & Economic Development has engaged a Sustainability Working Group of local Environmental Commission and Green Team members, faculty from nearby Universities and sustainability experts to draft a comprehensive action plan with distinct goals and strategies to achieve a sustainable future for Passaic County.

Entitled Passaic County Future, the Sustainability Element of the Passaic County Master Plan represents a commitment to improving public health and the quality of life for all residents, visitors and businesses in our community. Such a commitment cannot be accomplished alone, but will require mutually-beneficial collaboration and partnerships with municipal, state and federal agencies, nonprofit and community groups, public corporations, and universities, as well as private sector businesses.

The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners adopted Passaic County Future on March 12, 2013 (R-13-158) as a Comprehensive Action Plan for Achieving Sustainability in Passaic County Government Operations.

The Passaic County Planning Board adopted Passaic County Future on May 2, 2013 as a Sustainability Element of the Passaic County Master Plan.