Forget lean and mean – it’s so 1990’s. Today, if you want to be in the moment – and save the moments of future generations – you’d better be doubly green.
Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried is thinking green – but his eco-vision has officially extended well past Bloomfield Avenue and the borders of Montclair, and if things work out as planned, will bring some green dollars into the local economy.

Sunday, Fried will once again travel to China. And this time, he’s planning to launch an international green bridge between China, known as the world’s largest polluter, and Montclair, one of the top green towns in America.

Fried is traveling to Binzhou, a large city with a population of 3.5 million. A few months ago, he traveled to China, hoping to encourage economic development between his township and the large country.

Last month, the first rewards of his initial trip took center stage in Montclair, when 22 kids and 2 teachers from China visited the township and lived with host families.
Next up, Fried will travel to Binzhou with the director of Montclair State University’s PSE&G Institute for Sustainability Studies, Michael Weinstein, and the president of ‘Greener by Design’, a firm that assists towns in ‘going green’.

The conference, International Forum on Development of the Yellow River Delta Efficient Eco-Economic Zone, was partially the brain child of the Montclair Mayor, who is an avid green-fan – riding his bicycle to meetings almost every day, and a strong backer of the walkable, pedestrian friendly ‘Safe Streets’ program in town.

Now, he’s traveling across the world to extend a helpful hand, in an effort to educate and share some energy saving ideas. To Fried, sharing world-saving information isn’t just a great idea – it’s the key to our planet’s survival.

“How will the citizens of our two countries choose to live their lives?” he asks. “Will we choose a lifestyle that reconnects us with larger purposes and goals and knits u goether as members of neighborhoods, towns and cities? Or, will we retreat into the fortresses or our own consumption?”

As Fried says, this is a world changing conference.

“Can we help save the world?” he asks.

Indeed, China is the world’s most notorious polluter, and according to Chinese government publications, China is planning to spend about 5 trillion yuan, which is about $738 billion over the next ten years, all to develop new, cleaner energy sources.

Bringing the experience and willingness of Montclair’s almost 40,000 ever-green residents to China seems like a match made in Eco-heaven. Montclair is noted for being one of the most – if not the most –actively engaged ‘green’ municipalities in the nation.

Only a few weeks ago, Montclair got the word they were chosen as one of 3 American towns to receive $75,000 from a federal EPA grant, in order to be an official “climate showcase” community.

For now, Fried is planning to wow the Chinese people who attend his conference.
And, just like the last trip, he won’t be spending any taxpayer dollars. The trip has been paid for by the city of Binzhou.

“Energy is the main focus of the EPA grant,” explained Fried. “But when they talk about sustainability it’s also about economic stability. We need to deliver services in the most effective way. Energy is money, and saving on energy is also saving money.”

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