Solebury Earns Statewide Recognition for Sustainable Policies and Programs

Solebury Township is one of eight municipalities in Pennsylvania to earn Platinum Certification – the highest level of recognition – from the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification project. The project recognizes best practices in sustainable policies and operations, and is considered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development when reviewing applications for funding and grants.

The Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification is a project developed by the Pennsylvania Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh. This performance recognition program helps municipalities achieve their sustainability goals to save money, conserve resources, and encourage innovation.

"This is a testament to the hard work of all our residents who volunteer to serve on our many advisory committees," said Solebury Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Baum Baicker. "Sustainability touches every aspect of policy in the Township, and each of our committees has been working for many years to find ways to protect the environment and preserve our natural heritage."

Solebury scored 206 on a 300-point scale measuring a wide range of criteria, including governance and community engagement, fostering healthy communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, conservation efforts, environmental stewardship, and land use.

"Our next steps are to review the criteria and see what we can do to get closer to a perfect score," said Supervisor John Francis, who has been leading the Board's sustainability efforts. "We are all glad to be recognized as a pace-setter in Pennsylvania. This certification does not mean that we've accomplished our mission, but it does affirm our vision and hard work toward a more sustainable Solebury community."

The certification criteria were developed with broad input from Pennsylvania's municipal leaders, and after an extensive review of similar programs in several other states across the nation.