Atlanta ranked 19th by ‘green’ Web site

Atlanta ranked 19th on a list of sustainable cities by an environmental Web site, up from 38.

SustainLane Media gave Atlanta credit for leading the Southeast in energy-efficient buildings and a “no net loss” policy for trees. Atlanta also received major points for its plans to build the Beltline. A 20-year, multibillion-dollar effort, it would convert a 22-mile loop of abandoned and underused freight train tracks to a public transit system lined with parks and a walking, jogging and bicycling path.

Atlanta also ranked among the top cities for its access to fresh water, despite an ongoing, record-breaking drought and a bitter tri-state water feud with Alabama and Florida over who gets to control the region’s largest water sources, Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona.

SustainLane ranked 50 of the largest U.S. cities based on 16 factors, using data from public and nongovernmental organizations including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Census, Smart Growth America and the Texas Transportation Institute.

To view the entire study, go to www.sustainlane.com.

TOP 10 GREEN CITIES

1. Portland, Ore.

2. San Francisco

3. Seattle

4. Chicago

5. New York

6. Boston

7. Minneapolis

8. Philadelphia

9. Oakland, Calif.

10. Baltimore