2003 Adopted Resolutions
71st Annual Meeting
Denver

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ENHANCING ENERGY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY

WHEREAS, protecting and securing energy infrastructure is a critical component of our federal, state and local energy plans; and

WHEREAS, local governments have played an important role in response to past energy crises and must maintain their ability to meet their responsibilities to mitigate the effects of future energy supply disruptions or shortages; and

WHEREAS, the nation's mayors recognize energy emergency preparedness is key to managing the risk of large-scale power outages caused by deteriorating transmission and distribution systems, weather extremes, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, energy infrastructure - power plants, refineries, and transmission and distribution networks - share the vulnerability of all types of critical infrastructures to risks associated with threats from terrorist attacks and weapons of mass destruction; and

WHEREAS, managing the vulnerability of energy infrastructure is a necessary element of our national security, economic well-being, and environmental protection; and

WHEREAS, since the September 11th terrorist attacks, local governments have developed new efforts to evaluate vulnerable areas, taken protective measures, and instituted states of readiness to respond to an emergency should an act of terrorism occur; and

WHEREAS, disruptions to critical energy infrastructure would be devastating to the health and safety of our citizens,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to enhance energy emergency preparedness to reduce the impact of a disruption of the supply and distribution of energy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference of Mayors encourages the Department of Energy to expand its cooperative relationship with municipalities on energy emergency preparedness matters and to develop and integrate energy emergency response plans that include protecting the nation's critical energy infrastructure.