Just Back From China, Mayor Vows To Take More Sustainable Actions

Just back from his second trip to China so far this year, Mayor Jerry Fried told Patch on Wednesday that he hopes Montclair can work in parallel on sustainability issues going forward with the city of Binzhou.

For example, if Montclair decides to ask all departments to cut energy usage by 10 percent, Binzhou might make the same request.

"Then we can compare notes," Fried said.

He said that, in some areas, China might have more expertise when it comes to communication or certain environmental issues.

The mayor left for Binzhou on August 22 for eight days of meetings and returned late Tuesday.

In a trip paid for by the government of Binzhou, Fried participated in an economic sustainability forum—formally titled the International Forum on Development of the Yellow River Delta Efficient Eco-Economic Zone—while also meeting with business leaders.

Speakers at the forum included Dr. Michael Weinstein, director of the Montclair State University Institute for Sustainability Studies.

Fried said he planned to talk Wednesday to members of the Montclair Environmental Commission, which advises the Township Council and staff on matters relating to the protection of natural resources and advances recommendations regarding the Township's sustainability plan.

"What I anticipate happening is that Michael Weinstein will come and make a presentation to the commission and that we will eventually make a more specific agreement [with Binzhou]," Fried said. "The idea is that we combine our knowledge with their knowledge so that we can use our own resources more efficiently and effectively."

In addition, Fried said he hoped to travel to Nashville in the near future to hear more about what that city is doing in the area of sustainability.

He said he had "great" meetings with Jack Sayed, president and CEO of Nashville-based Apollo Energy Storage Corporation, while in China. Apollo is a provider of integrated clean energy storage services.

"He has had a lot of contact with government at every level from the local to federal levels," Fried said. "My plan is to go to Nashville to talk to the mayor and to [Sayed] about what the city is doing."

Situated in the northern part of China's Shandong Province, Binzhou is a city of 3.7 million people that lies within the Yellow River Delta, which has become a new destination for domestic and overseas investments.

Fried visited Binzhou, as well as seven other municipalities, during a two-week visit to China in May that included a tour of a five-million-square-foot wind turbine factory, a pharmaceutical plant, and various environmental businesses.

Turning to local issues, Fried said the Town Council is still waiting to hear how much state aid Montclair will be receiving.

"Decisions are basically made on the budget but we're waiting to hear about this before we do a final vote on the budget," he said.