By Kevin McCarty
June 16, 2008

Key Conference of Mayors leaders joined with national, state and local energy officials from throughout the U.S. for the 19th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum held at the National Press Club in Washington (DC). Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Conference Advisory Board Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and York (PA) Mayor John S. Brenner engaged in a facilitated discussion at a June 11 panel session, using the occasion to tout how the nation’s mayors and their local initiatives are helping to lead the country in a new direction on energy efficiency.

In response to an inquiry on the mayors’ views on the Senate’s unsuccessful efforts to move to “cap and trade” legislation during this Congress, Palmer told the forum participants that, “I was very disappointed and The U.S. Conference of Mayors was very disappointed about the inaction and, again, as mayors, we can’t afford to sit around and wait for the federal government.”

“We believe that you can be patriotic about more than just war and, certainly, reducing the dependence on foreign oil and reducing our energy consumption is something that we can all do as Americans,” Palmer said.

Palmer also emphasized that the opportunities and conditions that exist to accelerate progress on energy efficiency. “We have the perfect storm: high energy prices; what’s happening with our economy and the loss of jobs; and a change in what’s going to be happening federally in terms of leadership. So now is the time.”

Echoing Palmer’s remarks about the fate of the climate bill in the Senate, Nickels said, “I think it’s a disappointment that the debate actually didn’t happen. The debate was over whether to have a debate and that’s why mayors have decided not to wait for the federal government, but rather to step forward and lead by example,” he said.

“There’s a great history in our country of grassroots movements that started locally and then that became safe for the politicians in our state capitals and then it became safe for the politicians in Washington (DC). So, this issue [climate protection], I suspect, will wait until there’s a new president and perhaps a new mix in Congress for the policy framework to really happen,” Nickels added.

In discussing the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Program, Palmer praised the efforts of the Conference and the mayors in securing its enactment in last year’s federal energy law. “A little over a year ago, The U.S. Conference of Mayors put forth an initiative called an Energy and Environment Block Grant, because we recognized that if you want to talk about reducing your carbon footprint and creating green collar jobs and doing the kinds of retrofitting in, first of all, our public buildings, to lead by example, we’re going to need help,” Palmer said.

Palmer added that, “We’re going to need partnership with the federal government that can help supply some of the financial resources to help us go green.” In his comments, Palmer praised his own Senator, Bob Mendenez, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and others for their support of this priority. He also indicated that the nation’s mayors are now pressing Congress to fund the new block grant program in the upcoming appropriations process.

Each of the mayors on the panel discussed their city efforts to promote energy efficiency. Citing recent initiatives in York (PA), Brenner said, “What we’re doing right now, with the help of Johnson Controls, is we’re saving over $2 million, projected over a 15-year period, to update a number of our older city buildings and, of course, to improve efficiency in one of our newest building, which is the highest energy user, a $7 million dual-pad ice arena.” He also referenced how his shift to LEDs for his city’s Christmas tree saved money, stating that, “It used to cost $700 for a 45-day period to light it up” and now it is “costing seven dollars for our city taxpayers for the 45-day period.”

Following the panel session, U.S. Energy Association Executive Director Barry Worthington joined with the panel participants to present the organization’s 2008 Mayors Award for Energy Leadership to Nickels, who was recognized for his leadership and efforts in Seattle on energy efficiency.

In receiving the award, Nickels said that he was pleased to accept it on behalf of the citizens of Seattle, stating that his efforts were “building upon their longer record of success.” He also praised the efforts of the many mayors who have joined as signatories to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. “I am accepting this on behalf of the mayors of America and the more than 850 mayors for putting their name on the line,” Nickel said.

The Energy Efficiency Forum, which convenes every June in Washington (DC), is a special initiative of the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls, Inc.