PALMER TWP., Pa. — The township has become the second Lehigh Valley municipality to achieve Sustainable Pennsylvania’s Gold certification, a designation aimed at recognizing officials’ work toward sustainability goals.
"Palmer Township is proud to be recognized as a Gold certified community by Sustainable Pennsylvania," Township Manager Robert Williams said in a Thursday news release.
"The municipality has a long history of commitment to saving taxpayer dollars, using resources efficiently, and applying best practices in municipal operations and community development.
"We are pleased to be recognized and be part of this statewide community of good governance."
Sustainable Pennsylvania, an initiative through the Pennsylvania Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh, is a voluntary program focused on helping municipalities improve sustainability to save money, conserve resources and improve residents’ lives.
There are four tiered designations: platinum, gold, silver and bronze.
In the Valley, there's only one other city to achieve a designation through Sustainable Pennsylvania — Easton, which also received a Gold certification this year.
‘Distinguished among local governments’
This is the township’s second year participating in Sustainable Pennsylvania, after township officials in 2024 applied for the certification and achieved silver.
While recertification is once-a-three-year cycle, municipalities can submit assessments during that time to improve their certification.
Officials previously told LehighValleyNews.com they planned to re-submit their assessment after completing the township’s first greenway master plan in the hope of achieving gold.
Palmer last year also was the top-scorer out of 50 participating municipalities across the commonwealth in Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Carbon Reduction Sprint.
"We are delighted to see Palmer Township distinguished among local governments that are leading the way in applying sustainability to both their operations and management as well as within the community."John Brenner, executive director of the Municipal League.
"We are delighted to see Palmer Township distinguished among local governments that are leading the way in applying sustainability to both their operations and management as well as within the community," Municipal League Executive Director John Brenner said.
Through the program, a municipality earns points based on assessment criteria in 10 categories, including water, energy, economic development and revitalization, municipal operations, land use and housing, and others.
Each category has 10 to 23 questions with which points are earned. Depending on points accrued, a municipality gets a certification level.
“Sustainability requires a foundational approach that simultaneously integrates social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic development in decision-making,” Joylette Portlock, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh, said.
“Sustainable Pennsylvania provides municipal governments and stakeholders clear and recognizable sustainability objectives to share, so that they can foster thriving and vibrant communities, built to last.”
