Some statesmen are role models too. Take Oregon's governor, for example. Last May, Gov. John Kitzhaber signed an executive order putting all state agencies on notice to promote policies and programs that help Oregon meet a goal of sustainability within one generation by 2025. An executive order has the weight of policy but not the force of law. Government entities are notoriously slow to change the way they think and do business, but even when they are dinosaurs they influence the quality of our lives.
All state governments are large employers and impact natural qualities.
So there's a green factor at work. Government is also charged with increasing efficiency in state government, cutting long-term costs of state programs and saving taxpayer dollars. Being green and being lean are not exclusive goals. As a Christmas gift, Kitzhaber gave each staff member a ceramic mug. Don't even think about bringing a foam cup full of steaming latte into a conference.