Realtor.com and Move Inc Site Portland as One of the Greenest Cities

It's no surprise to Portlanders that this is one of the greenest cities in the country. Other than a general feeling of conservation and preservation, what really makes it so eco-friendly here? Nicki Kipen of Move Inc has an article on Realtor.com that covers many cities, but Portland is at the top, and here's what  he had to say:
"Affordable and accessible, this city straddling the banks of the Willamette River has long made sustainable living a priority. More than 30 years ago, with other cities in a freeway-building frenzy, Portland broke ranks and tore down a six-lane expressway to make room for a waterfront park. Since then the city has set an urban growth boundary to protect 25 million acres of forest and farmland, started a solid-waste program that recycles more than half of the city’s trash and erected more than 50 public buildings that meet tough standards set by the United States Green Building Council. One of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., Portland’s public transportation, Portland’s public transportation systems boasts a high rate of ridership. Add in one of the nation’s largest city parks – the aptly named Forest Park has 74 miles of running, biking and hiking trails – and Portland’s rep as the nation’s greenest city makes sense."