Thanks to Matt Slavin, president of Sustainability Consulting Group, you can read about the latest efforts in Portland to update its Climate Action Plan. Portland, of course, has been perhaps the most effective city in the US at reducing its carbon emissions and shrinking its carbon footprint. As part of the update process, the city and Multnomah County have proposed creating new incentives for developers to do green building. In short, if new construction simply meets the Oregon state energy code, there will be a fee imposed on the development. If the new construction achieves silver certification using the LEED green building standards, the fee will be waived. For buildings that achieve gold or platimum certification would receive a rebate or payment from the city. Read Matt Salvin's article "Climate Plan Debate: LEEDing the Way" from the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce.