In 2021, the city of Ithaca made national headlines after approving a plan to decarbonize its buildings by 2030. The city has a reputation for green energy, one that draws in community members and students alike. Meanwhile, both Ithaca College and Cornell University have received backlash from organizations like Zero Waste Ithaca in regard to their respective plans to implement synthetic turf fields. While this is one example, it demonstrates that green initiatives are still issues of contention.