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Frequently Asked Questions
What is GVI?
What has been done?
What’s left to be done?
Why the Inland Empire?
The Green Valley Initiative reflects a new vision for the Inland Empire, combining sustainable green practices and technology with an economic development plan being developed by major stakeholders from throughout the Inland Empire. It integrates social, economic and environmental forces to bring new jobs, greater opportunities and a higher quality of life to the region.
This is an inclusive effort involving the entire region. Participation is strongly encouraged because it affects the future of every resident or future resident of the Inland Empire.
The Green Valley Initiative was launched in June 2007 and now includes more than 100 key participants from throughout the region: people representing area cities and government agencies, universities and colleges, school districts, businesses, utilities and environmental groups. These GVI participants, referred to as “principals,” have formed three subcommittees that have been studying the policy issues, economic development possibilities and educational options needed to take place in order to establish the Inland Empire as a leader in green technologies, renewable energies and research.
The Green Valley Initiative has made tremendous progress. To date, it has:
- Brought together nearly 500 of the region's most influential leaders from government, education, business, tribes and community.
- Established working stakeholder groups in the areas of policy, education and economic development to develop and implement strategic plans.
- Created a synergistic working relationship between the two counties to develop a regionally beneficial green economic development platform.
- Signed on municipal, county and tribal governments as Green Valley Jurisdictions committed to incorporating sustainable land-use and green building, business and purchasing programs.
- Brought together the region's colleges, universities and school districts in unprecedented collaboration to establish a Green Brain Trust.
- Presented its initial findings and recommendations on October 22nd to regional and state leaders.
- Garnered support from the California Department of Conservation to implement a comprehensive pilot recycling education program in the Inland Empire.
- Received proclamations of support from Riverside and San Bernardino County Supervisors and accolades and support from Secretaries of State, Dale E. Bonner and Mike Chrisman.
- Completed a regional Quality of Life survey in cooperation with Cal State San Bernardino to gauge the community's understanding of, and position on, green and sustainable choices with regard to lifestyle, economic development and responsibilities.
- Attracted the attention of more than a dozen green-tech companies interested in relocating to the region
- Cataloged the region's green assets to identify existing resources and opportunities for expansion.
- Identified funding and capital sources to begin to make the Green Valley a reality.
- Developed many outreach mechanisms, events, speakers bureau, and other cooperative efforts including working with Green County San Bernardino to educate cities, business and community groups about the Green Valley Initiative's vision, work and challenges.
The subcommittees will be meeting in the weeks ahead to finalize ideas and recommendations, which will be written into a plan for implementation drafted at a general meeting of all principals in October, 2007. That plan will serve as the blueprint for building a better future for the Inland Empire.
Unprecedented growth:
2 million new residents will move here in the next 15 years.
Land availability:
Space is available to build facilities to accommodation this vision.
Infrastructure:
Proximity to interstate freeways, rail international airports and shipping ports are already in place and ready to support businesses moving here.
Education:
There are 17 colleges and universities in the area. Many have research programs in these technologies.
Conservation:
There is an established interest in protecting and preserve natural resource. The passage of the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan exemplifies this.
Established industries:
Kramer Junction Solar Farms, Heliostate thermal electric farm in Barstow, Palm Springs Wind Farms, Salton Sea Geothermal Farm, Phoenix Electric Car company and the waste-to-energy plant in Romoland are examples of established businesses in the area that are built on the concept of sustainability.
Market demand:
The Southern California regin is particularly receptive to environmental concerns, providing a large consumer base for green industries moving into the region.
Environmental need:
With traffic blocking our roadways and smog clogging our air, change is needed to bring in jobs, take people off the freeways and promote clean industry and quality jobs that can support the environment we want in our future.
