Whether they’re adding capacity to wastewater treatment plants or building a new fire station, cities and towns across the country have typically made infrastructure decisions by asking themselves one question: What’s the best value? But looking primarily at tangible needs and results in the procurement decision-making process largely excludes important conversations about current and future trends, innovative solutions and more. As climate change and severe weather increasingly impacts day-to-day operations–and as residents and businesses show a growing interest in environmental stewardship–public works agencies are quickly realizing that seemingly intangible needs such as sustainability and resiliency are playing a much more critical role in the success of their services, operations and future. And that realization is changing the way they need to approach procurement decisions, projects, and day-to-day operations. Even so, making a business case for resiliency and sustainability isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. There’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires a true understanding of not only the life cycle and cost of energy assets but also the consequences of not implementing these reliable, sustainable infrastructure projects. It requires educating leaders about current and future trends, new technologies, and innovative solutions while also getting buy-in from community members. And, ultimately, it requires a complete shift from a long-standing decision-making process to one that helps improve the quality, reliability and sustainability of public works services.
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Michael Kilpatrick
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