Thursday, June 19, 2008

Mayor Mallory Passes Green Cincinnati Action Plan

Posted by Media Release

Plan pledges to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2% per year

Cincinnati – Mayor Mark Mallory’s Green Cincinnati Plan was approved by Cincinnati City Council today.  The goal of the Green Cincinnati Plan is to reduce green house gas emissions by 8% in 4 years, 40% in 20 years, and 84% by 2050.  Developed by a citizen committee Chaired by Vice Mayor David Crowley, the plan contains 80 specific recommendations to achieve those goals.

“Cincinnati is going Green,” Mayor Mallory said.  “By taking bold action, we are positioning Cincinnati to be a leader in the competition to attract the ‘green’ jobs of the future.  Vice Mayor Crowley has been an exceptional leader moving the plan through Council.”

The plan makes short, medium, and long term recommendations in five areas, Transportation, Energy, Waste, Land Use, and Advocacy.  Implementing the Green Cincinnati Plan will achieve multiple benefits for the community, including cleaner air and water, improved public health, monetary savings, stronger local economy, and creation of good local jobs.

“The rising cost of energy is on everyone’s mind, and now is the time to act decisively,” Mayor Mallory said.  “We have worked to develop a comprehensive plan that will have big impact and produce substantial change.”

As the plan is implemented, it will focus on helping citizens improve the energy efficiency of their homes in order to help them achieve real savings on their utility bills.  The plan also will ensure that tax dollars are spent more wisely and efficiently by decreasing the City’s energy usage focusing on sustainability.

“I applaud City Council for taking this step today. Throughout the planning process I was encouraged by the collaborative process as evidenced by the number of participants from all different backgrounds and organizations who enthusiastically support, and will be crucial in the implementation of this plan,” Vice Mayor David Crowley said.

The Green Cincinnati Action Plan was developed by the Climate Protection Steering Committee appointed by Mayor Mallory and chaired by Vice Mayor David Crowley.  The Steering Committee received input from over 150 professionals and concerned citizens from diverse organizations, including government, business, environmental, civic, labor, and academic.

Greening Cincinnati is one of Mayor Mallory’s top priorities.  In his first City Budget, Mayor Mallory brought back the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ) to spearhead City environmental issues.  Larry Falkin, the Director of the OEQ, facilitated the work of the Climate Protection Steering Committee in writing the Green Cincinnati Action Plan.  With the passage of the plan, the OEQ will be responsible with implementing the recommendations. 

Find the Green Cincinnati Action Plan at:

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cmgr/downloads/cmgr_pdf18280.pdf

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says:
20 Jun 2008  at  10:24 pm | #

Well, it’s a plan to start planning.

Here’s my overall take on it.  The major problem facing us over the next several decades will NOT be global warming but the tightening supplies of fossil fuels.  The crunch is just starting now with petroleum as seen with gasoline at over $4.00 per gallon.  Natural gas supplies are tightening, too.  Coal is expected to follow eventually.

So the problem will NOT be that we are burning too many fossil fuels but that we will not have enough of the fossil fuels to burn even if we wanted to.

Many of the recommendations that would reduce greenhouse gases would also reduce fossil fuel usage, but not all.  Asking Duke Energy to change from burning coal to burning natural gas would just tighten the supply of natural gas even more and raise prices even higher.

I see that they are really pushing the streetcar boondoggle.  Streetcars are very expensive compared to other options such as trolly busses.  Futher, the route proposed for the expensive streetcar system would probably have low ridership.  The huge, heavy streetcars they are proposing to use could actually result in a net increase in emissions/fossil fuel usage.

I see the city has a fleet of ethanol-fueled vehicles.  This does almost nothing for either global warming or fossil fuel reduction but does help push food prices up.

Making the city more bicycle-friendly would be a big help.  Cyclists have been pushing for that for years. 

So when will the city move from talk to action?  I know that this document is called an “action plan” but it looked to me more like a “plan plan.”

says:
21 Jun 2008  at  10:31 am | #

As I returned from Finlay Market this morning, I couldn’t help but notices all of the police cars blocking the area along Gilbert Avenue for the Soap Box Derby. All of them were blocking traffic with a policeman inside with the windows up and their engines idling. This is only one instance that leads be to conclude that Mallory is just talk and nothing more.

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