Environmental news and information group The Mother Nature Network has named Austin as one of the nation’s 10 greenest cities.

The network praised the city of Austin’s Climate Protection Program, a plan to go carbon-neutral by 2020; and the city’s electric utility Austin Energy, the nation’s largest provider of renewable energy, among its reasons for naming Austin a leader in green.

“Austin is a green city because of our engaged community, and we hope our residents will continue to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ester Matthews, director of the Austin Climate Protection Program.

Other cities named to the Network’s list include Chicago; Seattle; Berkeley, Calif.; Cambridge, Mass.; Eugene, Ore.; Oakland, Calif.; Boston; San Francisco; and Portland, Ore.

The Mother Nature Network, founded by Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell in 2008, operates a Web site featuring original articles and columns covering business, transportation, lifestyle and other topics.

Courtesy ABJ, July 14,2009