By Debra DeHaney-Howard
February 12, 2007

Austin Mayor Will Wynn convened a meeting of the Conference of Mayors Energy Committee January 24. Committee members heard from several guest speakers who spoke on a number of energy issues, including climate change, renewable energy standards, and energy efficiency and conservation.

In opening the meeting, Wynn, chair of the Conference’s Energy Policy Committee, led a discussion on the Conference’s call for a $4 billion dollar Energy and Environmental Block Grant. In the discussion, Wynn stated that the Energy and Environmental Block Grant, which is modeled after the highly successful Community Development Block Grant Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, would “assists cities in their energy, environment and climate change efforts.”

The proposed Energy and Environmental Block Grant would provide funding directly to cities and urban counties for programs that improve community energy efficiency; develop and implement community strategies to reduce carbon emissions; develop and implement community and transportation energy conservation programs; encourage development of new technologies and systems to decrease our dependence on foreign oil; and promote and develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ), senior member of the U. S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, briefed mayors on a number of issues the committee will be addressing this year, including work on climate change legislation. In discussing climate change, Pallone said, “Local officials like you and like the mayors in my district are on the front lines of dealing with the impacts of global warming, despite the fact that it is an enormous problem that needs to be tackled on a national and international level.” He noted that House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (MI) has pledged to hold hearings and move forward with legislative solutions and Congressional action on this issue and others.

Deborah Estes, counsel for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources spoke broadly on number of issues before the committee, including renewable energy and energy efficiency and conservation. Estes noted that Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM), chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has made renewable portfolio standards legislation a priority for the committee along with climate change. She said, “The committee will pursue a number of legislative issues and activities that would lead to energy independence.” Estes also noted that in late January, Bingaman circulated a discussion draft on global warming legislation and plans to hold hearings on it in the near future.

Katharine Fredriksen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and International Affairs, U. S. Department on Energy (DOE), discussed DOE’s new energy initiatives, including the Administration’s effort to promote energy efficiency and conservation through the Clean Cities Program and the Solar America Initiative (SAI). Fredriksen stated that as a part of the SAI, DOE will be partnering with a number of cities to integrate solar technology into city energy planning and facilities, streamline city-level regulation and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses, and promote solar technology among residents and local businesses. Fredriksen’s presentation also touched on long term strategies to increase domestic supply of energy, including alternative and renewable energy sources.

Paul Mendelsohn of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the premier organization that represents architects before federal, state and local governments and other policymaking bodies and organizations, discussed the newly formed partnership between AIA and the Conference of Mayors. Mendelsohn said, “AIA and the Conference have joined forces in an effort to promote integrated/high-performance building design with a goal of reaching a 50 percent fossil fuel reduction by 2010 and carbon neutral buildings by 2030.” Mendelsohn also highlighted the Sustaianability 2030 Toolkit, which was developed by AIA and the Conference to provide cities the resources to implement the 2030 carbon neutral building challenge.

In concluding the session, mayors heard from former mayor of Long Beach and Past President of the Conference of Mayors Beverly O’Neill. O’Neill briefed committee members on a new initiative, which is co-chaired by O’Neill and former Louisiana Senator John Breaux, called the Energy Initiative. Established earlier this year, the Energy Initiative primary focus is to bring together both the producers of energy with consumers of energy to engage in a dialogue on how to develop and move forward on national energy policy. O’Neill stated that one of the goals of the coalition is to “develop a consensus on energy policies that move the nation forward in securing its energy future.”