SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A “GREEN” ECONOMY

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has passed several resolutions calling on all levels of government to pursue environmentally sustainable municipal practices; and

WHEREAS, “green building” and other sustainable practices will support growth in all sectors of our economy; and

WHEREAS, the Green Jobs Act was signed into law on December 19, 2007, providing funding for workforce training linked to jobs in sustainable industries such as renewable energy and energy efficiency; and

WHEREAS, a leading cause for increased recidivism, poverty, and crime is a lack of jobs that pay a livable wage; and

WHEREAS, one of the most essential elements of a “green” economy will involve increasing the production of energy from sustainable sources and retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient; and

WHEREAS, the promotion of energy policies based on energy efficiency and on renewable sources will not only help our economy, but will do so in a healthy and clean way, saving our cities billions in ancillary costs such as health care, infrastructure decay, climate change mitigation and waste management; and

WHEREAS, according to the American Wind Energy Association, adding 30,000 megawatts of wind energy to our capacity by 2010 could reduce carbon emissions to our atmosphere by 100 million tons; and

WHEREAS, according to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study, a Photovoltaic system meeting half of the electrical needs of a typical household would eliminate approximately half a ton of sulfur dioxide pollution from the air, and 600 pounds of nitrogen oxides; and

WHEREAS, green jobs and sustainable methods of producing energy make-up an increasing percentage of the economy. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 117,000 jobs in wind and solar energy production can be sustained with tax credits aimed toward that industry,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the U.S. Congress to extend the Wind Production Tax Credit, Solar Investment Tax Credit, and the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit as soon as possible so that 117,000 jobs in that sector can be secured in 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the USCM calls upon the U.S. Congress to fund the programs passed in the Green Jobs Act to their full authorization level for FY 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the USCM calls upon the U.S. Congress to allocate additional funding for the development of new green businesses and workforce development programs for the new energy economy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that members of the USCM will take steps to better implement and increase the opportunities for green jobs development in their cities such as: 1) competing for the Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration Grant to fund green jobs for the economically disadvantaged; 2) institute solar alternative power initiatives that increase the number of solar cells attached to our power grids, implement energy efficiency capital improvements, and make use of other energy forms such as wind power or geothermal; and 3) work with the business community to form green job councils in our cities that can best direct human resources to growing green industries.