Green Opportunities in the Southeastern United States

In this column we are excited to highlight the vibrant economic development opportunities related to sustainability in the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.   In terms of legislation, historically, these states have often lagged in comparison to other regions such as the northeast and northwest in terms of developing new sustainability initiatives, but this is changing quickly.  Opportunities in the southeast for green technologies abound as these states and their municipalities embrace the green revolution to bring increased economic develop to the region and improve the quality of life of their fast growing populations.   

In the last two decades, the economy of the southeastern United States has changed dramatically. It has seen a boom in its service manufacturing base, high technology industries, and the financial sector. Examples of this include numerous new automobile production plants, the two largest research parks in the country: Atlanta dubbed the capitol of the New South by many is the home of the world’s busiest passenger airport Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport as well as the Headquarters for 13 Fortune 500 companies.  Research Triangle in North Carolina and the Cummings Research Park in Alabama (the world's fourth largest); and the corporate headquarters of major banking corporations.  This economic expansion has enabled parts of the South to boast of some of the highest GDP and lowest unemployment rates in the United States.

In terms of sustainability, the southeast’s economy is expanding in great ways.  For example according an Atlanta Journal Constitution article June 22, 2010, “the green revolution grows across Georgia. The state received, for example, $125 million in March 2009 from Washington to insulate homes. As of March 31, 281 weatherization jobs had been created, according to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.”   Investment in a myriad of sustainable industries is predicted “to create 50,000 "green” jobs by 2016 and ride an environmentally friendly wave to a cleaner, more prosperous future, according to a thought-provoking report by the Georgia Department of Labor, cited in the same article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.   Another example is in Tennessee where state legislation is also creating more and more opportunities for Green Technology.   According to SustainableTN.Com, with bi-partisan support, on June 4, the Tennessee Senate and House passed a budget with full funding for land conservation.  More than $16 million was restored for: State Parks Fund:  $3.1 million; Local Parks Fund:  $3.7 million; Wetlands Fund: $6.5 million; and Agricultural Fund: $3.2 million.   These two states are not unique in the region as the states of Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina are also aggressively funding and mandating through legislation full throttle sustainability initiatives. 

Bordered by the Appalachian Mountains to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the south to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River and its delta to the west, the southeast is rich in natural resources and highly bio-diverse.  Government and private enterprise has recently embraced the need to protect this beautiful, unique region; but with sustainability initiatives still in their infancy it, the region as a whole lacks the more mature infrastructure for sustainability as other American regions.  Again opportunity abounds for companies from around the world to partner with public and private enterprise in the region to build a green foundation which will help the region quickly meet and surpass others to become a future world leader in the Green economy.  This column is a great way to stay abreast of everything you need to know about sustainability in the southeastern United States.  The region is ripe with opportunity; and being informed on the latest happenings at the state, county and municipal level is the optimum way to beat your competition to the best deals.