By Guy F. Smith
May 5, 2008

Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Stamford (CT) Mayor Dannel Malloy were featured speakers giving an urban perspective to the energy, water and infrastructure crisis in New York City April 18.

The event was The Regional Plan Association’s (RPA) 18th Annual Regional Assembly, a half-day event attended by over six hundred political, business and planning leaders from across the country. The conference featured keynote speeches, plenary panels and workshops to discuss critical energy, water and infrastructure issues facing the New York metropolitan region.

Palmer highlighted the Trenton Green Initiative, saying it was part of a movement that has come to engage more than 800 mayors. His city’s Green Initiative, Palmer said, “brings together relevant government agencies at all levels, our utility, our small businesses and large corporations, our school children and seniors, and the faith-based and community organizations with strong connections to the grassroots.”

“By working together, we believe we can succeed in leveraging partnerships for effective energy conservation, green-collar career development, green purchasing and operations, a healthy environment and green building. The greatest challenge, of course, is changing behavior, but we are making the case by demonstrating the long-term benefits and present-day savings from climate protection efforts,” Palmer added.

Expanding on the theme of a mayor’s approach to oil and water issues, Palmer continued from his perspective as President of the Conference of Mayors.

“As President of The Conference of Mayors, one of our major focuses has been on promoting energy independence and climate change solutions. At USCM, I also served as the Chair of the Mayors’ Water Council. These two roles have given me a unique perspective on both of these topics, which are very much interrelated.

“One of the things you need to know about mayors is that they are committed and passionate about doing what they can to improve the environment including reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and providing their citizens with safe and clean water supplies,” he added.

“Over 800 mayors from the U.S. have committed their city to reduce their climate impact by seven percent from 1990 levels. However, with these tough economic times, it is difficult to implement the programs you need to do in order to get the results you need to really have an impact.

“That is why one of my top priorities as President of the Conference of Mayors was the passage and full funding of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. This Block Grant would provide money for communities to do all types of energy efficiency projects, which will have a net benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects that could be done with the block grant include weatherization programs, promoting energy efficient buildings, changing street lighting, and exploring alternative fuels to name a few.

The other interesting topic that will most likely be addressed by communities who are trying to reduce their energy use and therefore their climate impact is to look at the Water and Energy Relationship. Some interesting facts are:

• 48 percent of the current US water supply is used for energy production

• Water treatment sector consumes three percent of all US electricity generated

• Electricity accounts for one-third of a water and wastewater utility’s operating costs with Energy consumption at water and wastewater utilities estimated to grow by 20 percent in the next 15 years.

The water sector estimates that water loss from leaking pipes can range from 5 to 40 percent in some cities which is a tremendous cost:

• Loss of the water

• Wasted energy costs from treating/pumping water

• Lost water revenues, and

• Greenhouse gas emissions created from treating/pumping water that is lost.

Meanwhile our water supplies are not looking good. According to a 2005 USCM survey, 35 percent of cities face water shortages by 2025. A U.S. Geological Survey determined that groundwater is declining, and there will be a shift to surface water supplies. Rather than continue to think of water as cheap and plentiful and not consider the Energy impacts of water - we need to communicate to our citizens and businesses; water is a valuable and finite commodity; water should not be treated as a waste product; water is not an inexhaustible and free commodity; and by utilizing more renewable fuels, we could greatly reduce the amount of water that is used.

As I mentioned, the topics of oil or energy used and water actually are quite interrelated and intermix quite well.”

Palmer closed with saying, “As a nation, we need to have a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion on these topics to protect these valuable commodities and keep America strong and economically competitive.”

Other highlights of the day included a presentation by Franklin on how her city is engaging in a long-term planning effort to address the current drought situation in the region. Franklin’s address kicked off a moderated discussion amongst regional municipal leaders on how their cities are planning for climate change.

“Stamford has been a state and national leader on environmental reforms,” said Malloy. “I look forward to the opportunity at the Regional Plan Association’s Assembly to share ideas and information and hear about actions that Stamford can take to further our energy efficiency goals.”

Other featured conference speakers were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR), and a bevy of finance, foundation representatives and experts on the subjects addressed at the conference.