MAYOR DAVLIN SIGNS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT

SPRINGFIELD BECOMES COOL CITY

for more information:
Ernie Slottag 789-2235

Mayor Tim Davlin today signed on to the U. S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, symbolizing Springfield’s commitment to be a leader in efforts to reduce the threat of global warming. Through this agreement, Mayor Davlin pledges to work to reduce global warming carbon dioxide pollution by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. (Kyoto Protocol)

“We know that global warming is a very real concern to all of us,” said Mayor Davlin. “The signing of this agreement represents Springfield’s commitment to local community efforts to respond to the threat of global warming. This qualifies us to join the hundreds of other communities who are ‘Cool Cities’.”

Joining Mayor Davlin in announcing this initiative were representatives of the Sierra Club Sangamon Valley Group, Sustainable Springfield, Inc., the University of Illinois at Springfield, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Bunn-O-Matic Corporation.

“We have already taken the first steps toward achieving some of these goals. Now, we must rally the entire community to creatively find additional ways to reduce emissions and make our planet a better place to live for our children and their children.”

“The City has joined International Council for Local Environmental Issues (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability - an international membership association dedicated to addressing environmental issues through local action. Our membership will provide the technical assistance we need to develop a greenhouse gas inventory for our city and create a plan to achieve our goals.”

Davlin cited several measures already taken by City Water, Light and Power that are setting the city on a path to reduce greenhouse emissions including purchasing wind power, using renewable seed corn and conversion to energy efficient traffic signals.

In addition, CWLP’s new refrigerator buy-back program, which was just passed at the last City Council meeting, is expected to assist in not only reducing energy consumption but to also ensure an environmentally-friendly disposal of those appliances, all of which contain greenhouse gases.

Other City efforts will work toward meeting Cool Cities goals. Davlin said that energy audits of all city facilities was recently completed and those reports are now being prioritized for upgrades. The city was also successful in securing $13,000 in Clean Energy Foundation funding for upgrading the lighting at each Springfield Fire Station. Plans are also underway to upgrade the HVAC at Springfield Fire Station No. 1. The city beautification program, Springfield Green, continues tree planting and educational efforts on trees and their benefits to the environment.

Outside of City efforts, Davlin noted that the Springfield Mass Transit District has been doing its part by running busses fueled by compressed natural gas, which keeps the air cleaner by not burning diesel fuel. The Mayor also applauded educational efforts by University of Illinois at Springfield and groups such as the Sierra Club, Sustainable Springfield and Clean Energy Springfield, which should assist in making Springfield’s transition to being a Cool City easier.

Springfield has already been recognized for being environmentally friendly with its placement in the top 30 cities in the United States designated as “Green Cities” by Popular Science magazine.  They utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society’s Green Guide, to make their determination. Springfield has also been recognized as being the 13^th greenest city in the United States by The Green Guide, the premiere news and information source for green living. That organization recognized Springfield for providing the most energy-efficient, least polluting and healthy spaces in which to live.

“Being a Cool City and working toward the reduction of greenhouse gasses is a community wide effort.  We must work together to establish a plan that will allow us to reach our goals and continue to reduce our impact on global warming for the future,” Davlin concluded.

For more information on Cool Cities, check the website at http://coolcities.us. Residents and companies who want to find out what they can do to participate in the program should call the Mayor’s office at 789-2200.