SUPPORTING THE RECOGNITION OF GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION BENEFITS
OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
WHEREAS,
many local communities and municipalities have adopted an integrated waste
management approach that includes development and operation of renewable energy
technologies such as waste-to-energy and electricity produced from landfill
gas; and
WHEREAS,
each community should strive to ensure safe disposal of solid waste and
electricity for its residents from clean energy sources; and
WHEREAS,
renewable energy sources such as waste-to-energy and electricity produced from
landfill gas provide a number of environmental benefits including utilization
of indigenous natural resources, reduced dependence on imported foreign energy
supply, increasing domestic fuel diversity, and significant reduction in the
potential for release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other experts in the field of
greenhouse gas emissions have studied waste-to-energy’s ability to avoid the
release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and found that
facilities nationwide annually avoid the release into the atmosphere of more
than 40 million metric tons of carbon dioxide or its equivalent, a potent
greenhouse gas; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Congress, and many states, counties,
and local governments are considering the adoption of policy, legislation, and
regulations to quantify the reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions
from various technologies and management methods, and in some cases assign
greenhouse gas credits for the reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas
emissions emitted into the atmosphere,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
recognizes the significant contribution provided by waste-to-energy and
electricity produced by landfill gas in avoiding the release of greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the
U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Congress, states, counties and local
governments to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by the
use of waste-to-energy and electricity produced from landfill gas using the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology or similar method, and to grant
these technologies the same incentives as provided in policy, legislation and
regulation to other technologies or methods that reduce or avoid release of
greenhouse gases.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 