First Stop Portland Student Ambassador
Even before the earthquake of spring 2011 rocked Japan's confidence in nuclear energy, leaders in the Toyama prefecture were actively promoting a low-carbon "Eco-Town" model based on compact development, renewable energy sources, increasing citizen participation, and expanding light rail transit. During a recent visit celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the Toyama prefecture's sister state relationship with Oregon, Toyama Vice Governor Koichi Uede spent the morning learning about the new Electric Avenue test site on the Portland State University campus.
Vice-Governor Koichi Uede checks out PSU's Electric Avenue |
Sounds like a great idea, the delegation observed, but will it work?