IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY ASSURANCE AND ENERGY SECURITY EFFORTS

WHEREAS, the economic resiliency of cities and local economies across America is of paramount importance, and energy supply shortages often have dramatic negative financial impacts on American communities; and

WHEREAS, keeping local government energy services on-line during future energy emergencies can result in saved lives; and

WHEREAS, energy shortages at the local government level can be considered a major national security issue, depending on the severity of the shortage;

WHEREAS, local government energy supplies are usually inextricably tied to the fate of their local energy providers, and maintaining basic government services to the general public is expected from the community and is also of increasing importance to public officials; and

WHEREAS, power to communities is sometimes not restored for more than a week due to major natural disasters, communities need the ability to provide important services during that time period, and they need to plan for extended power outages that last beyond the traditional one to three days used in the past; and

WHEREAS, the federal government is devoting major financial resources to developing new energy assurance-related technologies through national laboratories and other institutions, and these technologies are largely unknown to many local government officials; and

WHEREAS, recent natural disasters such as the $50 billion Hurricane Sandy on our East Coast and horrific Oklahoma tornadoes are expected generally to increase in frequency, duration and severity in the near future, further straining our aging electrical infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, local government resources available for purchasing back-up power and emergency management-related equipment are severely strained due to revenue shortfalls associated with our reeling national economy; and

WHEREAS, the federal government and private utilities are modernizing the nation’s electrical grid, but at a relatively slow pace given the need for upgrading equipment and protecting American lives; and

WHEREAS, recent actions by the Obama Administration and Congress continue to reduce federal financial support for local government energy assurance efforts through the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies; and

WHEREAS, lessons learned through local government energy assurance planning efforts funded in the past through the federal government need to be immediately shared with other communities; and

WHEREAS, helping local governments prepare for, and mitigate against, future energy shortages resulting from natural disasters is an important national priority; and

WHEREAS, the Obama Administration and Congress have an excellent opportunity to create jobs, improve safety and save lives by assisting local governments with the diversification of their energy supplies through distributed energy resources and other federally-funded technologies and programs,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages the federal government to devote significant financial resources to local government energy assurance efforts in the coming fiscal year, while working with Mayors to establish new energy assurance planning initiatives that result in improved safety, increased resiliency and economic competitiveness at the local government level; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to participate directly with local policymakers and leaders in the development of local energy assurance plans that help governments identify their key assets and services, while also developing ordinances, regulations, technical assistance teams and best practice compendiums that help communities become more resilient with the ability to better withstand future energy shortages.