The SustainLane 2006 US City Rankings

Cities by Category Ranking: Green Economy

  • Green, or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment) buildings per capita
  • Farmers markets per capita
  • Presence of a city or public-private incubator for clean technology industries, including renewable energy, advanced transportation, advanced water treatment, alternative fuels, green building, and energy efficiency
  • Presence within the city of a green business directory, either public or private

Green Economy does not include environmental services such as hazardous waste cleanup services. Many elements of the green economy have value-added benefits for a city's local economy while reducing stress on local resources and the local ecosystem. Green building, for example, saves businesses and residents money in operating costs while reducing environmental impacts during manufacture, use, and disposal.

Atop the Green Economy category is Portland, which has a high rate of farmers markets and green buildings per capita and numerous local green business directories. The city was not credited with having a business incubator, though it may soon be involved in a consortium with wind-energy and other clean tech businesses. Seattle and Sacramento are tied at #2, with slighter fewer farmers markets and green buildings per capita. Philadelphia ranks #4, with a clean tech incubator for electric vehicles and green building technologies. San Francisco is #5.

  • 1. Portland, OR
  • 2. Sacramento, CA*
  • 2. Seattle, WA*
  • 4. Philadelphia, PA
  • 5. San Francisco, CA
  • 6. Denver, CO
  • 7. Oakland, CA
  • 8. Baltimore, MD
  • 9. Chicago, IL
  • 10. Milwaukee, WI
  • 11.Washington, DC
  • 12. Boston, MA*
  • 12. Minneapolis, MN*
  • 12. San Diego, CA*
  • 15. Honolulu, HI
  • 16. San Jose, CA
  • 17. Phoenix, AZ
  • 18. New York, NY
  • 19. Albuquerque, NM
  • 20. Dallas, TX*
  • 20. Kansas City, MO*
  • 20. Los Angeles, CA*
  • 20. Tucson, AZ*
  • 24. Houston, TX
  • 25. Colorado Springs, CO
  • 26. Las Vegas, NV*
  • 26. Tulsa, OK*
  • 28. Long Beach, CA
  • 29. New Orleans, LA
  • 30. Fresno, CA
  • 31. Charlotte, NC
  • 32. Arlington, TX
  • 33. Indianapolis, IN
  • 34. San Antonio, TX
  • 35. Detroit, MI*
  • 35. Oklahoma City, OK
  • 37. Louisville, KY
  • N/A. Atlanta, GA
  • N/A. Austin, TX
  • N/A. Cleveland, OH
  • N/A. Columbus, OH
  • N/A. El Paso, TX
  • N/A. Fort Worth, TX
  • N/A. Jacksonville, FL
  • N/A. Memphis, TN
  • N/A. Mesa, AZ
  • N/A. Miami, FL
  • N/A. Nashville, TN
  • N/A. Omaha, NE
  • N/A. Virginia Beach, VA
  •  
  • *Denotes tie.