Questions and Answers
Why is it important for local government to be
involved?
Local Governments have taken the lead in the United States with
Climate Protection issues. As the 500th City to sign onto the
climate protection agreement, Tulsa has joined a group whose sum
can have a real impact. It is important because energy consumption
happens at the local level and that is the best place to start with
each community making sure it is following best management
practices in energy conservation and efficiency. Joining the effort
started by Mayor Nickels in Seattle was the right thing for Tulsa
to do. Together cities across the nation stand stronger than if we
each were to go this alone.
What is the Mayor 's plan?
In 2007, the City of Tulsa has faced the issues highlighted in
the Climate Protection Agreement in a forthright way. In April,
Tulsa published online a 60-page plan that catalogues the city's
historical energy use and emissions, the first of its kind. The
plan calls for implementation of best practices. Recently the City
approved the Purchase of CNG vehicles funded by a hard won federal
grant. The Plan shows the real-world impact of how much forest
would need to be sequestered to compensate for the CO2 Tulsa
produces.
Recently I signed an executive order halting the cutting of
trees in our City parks. Biodiesel is re-emerging in the Tulsa area
with local green entrepreneurs spearheading efforts that would
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to these efforts, the
City is planning to consolidate up to 12 separate city office areas
into one energy efficient high technology building this Fall. This
is projected to realize a 15 million dollar savings and to
facilitate high performance government.
What do we need from the federal government to follow
through with the plan?
The first initiative from the 2007 US Conference of Mayor 's
10-point plan calls for an Energy and Environmental Block Grant. I
believe it is crucial that cities have the means to implement the
plans we are striving to fulfill. Currently so much of the federal
funds available are reserved for those cities that are in
non-attainment. As a clean city in good attainment, Tulsa cannot
access these funds with the same frequency and ease as those cities
that are in non-attainment. The creation of a CDBG-Styled Federal
Program to help implement the City of the future is a necessary
step in order to live up to the spirit of the Mayor 's Climate
Protection Agreement.
