1. RESTORATIVE ECONOMICS:
MKE’S H2O REVOLUTION
MATT HOWARD, SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
CITY OF MILWAUKEE
April 30, 2012

2. “I want to create an alignment of economic and
environmental interests that improve Milwaukee’s
quality of life.”
Mayor Tom Barrett

3. Restorative Economics: Paul Hawken
• Current: extraction-based economy; economic value
price driven; and, externalities go unaccounted
• “We can either create assets for the future or take
the assets of the future.”
• Next Industrial Revolution: conservation of resources;
reuse of materials; change in values from quantity to
quality, and investing in natural capital, or restoring
and sustaining natural resources.

4. Restorative Economics: Paul Hawken
• Restoration Economy: shift from new development to
redevelopment + improving natural resources +
price reflects ALL costs (externalities) but conveys
true value of good or service
• Water(shed) restoration with infrastructure
restoration is now a proven path to metropolitan &
economic restoration
• Economic value more closely aligned to
environmental quality = H2O in MKE!

5. Economic Value of Water
 Price: No unit price for H20 – future uncertainty
 Supply: Closed loop/finite system
 Demand: Population is exploding in areas with
quality/quantity issues
 Great Lakes: 40m people; $7b fishing ind.
 Water/Energy nexus
 Water tech industry + water dependant industries

6. Economic Value of Water: MKE
 Historical value of water: transportation, tanneries,
beer, research + technology
 Industrialization degraded MKE’s most valuable
economic asset
 New growth industry: water tech + efficiency
 New growth industry: livability of cities
 Attract
people, resources, jobs
 Redevelopment + adaptive reuse
Is H2O MKE’s “next” industrial revolution?

7. Milwaukee H20 Assets
 Policy
 Mayor Barrett Vice Chair GLSL
 City GI & Sustainability Planning
 Sweet Water, MMSD, UW-M, etc
 Action
 MV: Major City remediation and redevelopment
 Eco-industrial “park”: companies + stormwater + livability
 City wants to replicate this at scale
 Century City, Inner Harbor, Brewery Project

8. Conclusion
 H2O is our next Industrial Revolution
 Historical assets & knowledge base
 Restorative action drives triple bottom-line: strong
connection b/t water quality and economic growth
 Mayor wants more strategic action on connection
between environmental action and economic
development
 Continue to partner to achieve common goals

9. Contact Info
Matt Howard
Environmental Sustainability Director
City of Milwaukee
(414) 286-3351
mhoward@milwaukee.gov
www.milwaukee.gov/sustainability
Thank You!