FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Michele Brennan w/City of Orlando 407-246-3845
Ann Brown w/ Climate Communities, 202-478-6135,
Annie Strickler w/ ICLEI USA, 510-844-0699 x328,

Mayor Dyer Joins Local Governments Nationwide to Call on President-elect Obama and Congress to Invest Stimulus Dollars in Local Climate Action

GreenWorks Orlando Initiatives Provide Opportunity for Green Jobs,
Energy Independence, Emissions Reductions

Orlando, FL – …Mayor Buddy Dyer called on President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress to invest stimulus dollars in local climate action as a quick and effective way to create new green jobs, revitalize the economy and promote energy independence.

“We were pleased that during his campaign, President-elect Obama indicated support for investment in energy saving projects to help create jobs and spur economic recovery,” said Mayor Dyer. “We want President-elect Obama and Congress to know that with federal assistance we are ready to put hundreds of Orlando citizens to work in jobs that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions.”

Increasingly, economists are promoting green jobs as key to the country’s economic recovery and long-term growth. The mayor described four projects that could be implemented in the next 12 months if federal funds are made available, including a 600 Kilowatt rooftop solar array system downtown-to increase renewable energy production in Central Florida and support the growing solar industry in Florida, Illuminated Street Name Signs Upgrade Project – This project will provide an energy savings and improve navigation throughout the City by replacing incandescent illuminated street name signs at traffic signals with energy efficient LED street name signs. The project includes the replacing 689 illuminated street name signs at 253 intersections, and in addition the City is currently looking at implementing energy efficient retro-fits for its 800+ public buildings. All together, the city estimates that these projects would create over 200 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next 5 years.

Mayor Dyer along with numerous other local elected officials nationwide joined with Climate Communities and ICLEI USA this week to endorse Empowering Local Government Climate Action: Blueprint for the New President and 111th Congress. “Climate Communities and ICLEI USA are organizing city and county leaders from across America to make sure that federal decision makers understand the essential role of local governments in reducing energy use and addressing climate change,” said Roger Dickinson, Sacramento County Supervisor and a Climate Communities Executive Committee member. “We look forward to working with President-elect Obama and Congress to ensure that federal policies empower local communities with the tools and resources we need to get the job done.” Download the Blueprint at www.climatecommunities.us/endorseblueprint.html or www.icleiusa.org/blueprint.

Local government actions have the potential to dramatically reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Energy Information Administration, more than 40 percent of energy consumption and carbon emissions come from residential and commercial buildings and one-third is generated by the transportation sector.

“Supporting local government action should be a top priority as Washington develops new economic stimulus, climate and energy policies,” said Mayor Dyer. “Local governments set and enforce building codes, we determine transportation and land use policies and we are dramatically affected when our communities suffer untold human and economic loss from hurricanes, wildfires, water shortages and other climate events.”

“Local governments have laid the foundation for this country’s response to global warming, providing the leadership, solutions and innovation that city by county by town have helped curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy use and costs,” said Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of ICLEI USA.

Currently there are no federal programs to support local climate and energy initiatives. The Local Government Climate Action Blueprint calls for stimulus legislation to include $6 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program and $9 billion for public transit and green vehicles infrastructure. The Blueprint outlines many other opportunities for the federal government to invest in local government innovation, including:
· Enactment of a national GHG cap-and-trade program with a portion of the estimated $150 billion carbon trading revenues invested in local government climate action and green jobs initiatives;
· Investment in public transit, green vehicles and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction through reauthorization of $400 billion federal transportation legislation; and
· $250 million for EPA Local Climate Demonstration Grants that empower local governments to continue creating new solutions to the climate challenge.

Today’s announcement was part of “Local Climate Action Week,” when dozens of city and county officials are showcasing energy and climate innovations, sending the message to federal leaders that given support, local governments can and should be a critical partner in addressing climate change, achieving energy security and developing a green economy.


About Climate Communities: Climate Communities is a national coalition of cities and counties that is educating federal policymakers about the essential role of local governments in addressing climate change and promoting a strong local-federal partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, see www.climatecommunities.us.

About ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability: ICLEI USA provides expertise, technical support, and innovative tools to help local governments advance their emissions reductions and sustainability goals. More than 500 cities, towns and counties in the U.S. are members of ICLEI. For more information, see www.icleiusa.org.

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