By Debra DeHaney-Howard
June 28, 2010

Energy Committee Chair Santa Ana (CA) Mayor Miguel Pulido led members of the Conference's Energy Policy Standing Committee through several policy debates on a number of energy-related issues. Among the issues debated were climate protection, energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances, and energy efficient mortgages.

Members of the Committee met June 12 during the Conference of Mayors 78th Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City and considered thirteen energy-related policy resolutions, including a resolution reaffirming the Conference's call for Congress and the Administration to appropriate full funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, which is a top priority for the Conference.

Committee members recommended the energy block grant resolution along with eleven other resolutions to the full membership for consideration at the organization's June 14 Business Session. The resolution calling for Promoting a Global Standard for Cities to Measure Greenhouse Gas Emissions was withdrawn by its lead sponsor. The full membership unanimously approved the Energy Committees- recommendations.

Following the Committee's resolution debate, Chair of the Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Task Force Carmel (IN) Mayor James Brainard provided a brief report on the work of the Mayors Climate Protection Task Force as well as Mayors Climate Protection Center. Brainard reported that 1,042 mayors, representing cities with a total population of nearly 88 million, are now signatories to the Conference's Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Under the agreement, cities commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emission seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Brainard also briefed committee members on the pending energy and climate bill, reporting that the Kerry-Lieberman energy and climate bill, entitled The American Power Act, which, unlike prior Senate proposals, does not include a funding commitment to the energy block grant program. Brainard said, "We don-t have a commitment in place to fund our EECBG program on a continuing basis so we have more work to do. Mayors must continue to insist that any energy and climate legislation moving in Congress should support cities and counties continue in their energy and climate initiatives."

Toby Russell, Program Manager for the Energy Department's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program also addressed Committee members. Russell provided an update on the energy block grant program, reporting that "significant progress has been made in releasing energy block grant funds to cities." He noted that cities across the U. S. are implementing a wide range of projects, including energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings to the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements to the installation of LED traffic signals and street lights. Russell also briefed members of the committee on the EECBG Technical Assistance Program, which provides cities and counties the tools and resources needed to implement their energy block grant programs.

Adopted Resolutions:

• Supporting Full and Dedicated Funding of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants — calls on Congress and the Administration to appropriate full funding for the EECBG Program in fiscal year 2011, while supporting higher authorization levels in future years.

• Calling on Congress to Pass Comprehensive Clean Energy and Climate Protection Legislation — urges Congress, in consideration of the critical role that cities must continue to play in advancing solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting and responding to changing global climate conditions, to include in any final energy and climate legislation the direct allocation of carbon allowances, auction proceeds, or other sources of revenues to cities for investment in energy conservation and climate mitigation, including funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program at the full authorized level.

• Support for the Greening of School Districts — calls upon its constituents to partner with their local school districts to implement green initiatives such as appointing sustainability managers, establishing a green advisory team, providing training for municipal and district staff, and adopting policies that call for all district schools to pursue certification through third-party rating systems like LEED.

• Endorsing the Maximum Achievable Building Energy Efficiency Improvements in the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code — endorses the full adoption of the 30 percent Solution 2012 at the ICC's Final Action hearings this October in Charlotte and encourages municipal support for all eligible code officials to attend these hearings and to vote in favor of the adoption of the 30 percent Solution 2012.

• Calling on Congress and the Administration to Increase Funding for the EPA Climate Showcase Grants for Local Governments — calls upon Congress and the Administration to support increased funding for the Climate Showcase Communities program in fiscal year 2011 and in future years.

• Lower Energy Costs, Increase Job Growth, Reduce Pollution, and Save Water: A Resolution in Support of Appliance Efficiency Standards — urges the U.S. Department of Energy to expeditiously promulgate and implement new national appliance and equipment standards at the greatest level of cost effective energy and water savings and to accelerate completion of those specific new standards which will deliver the largest energy and water savings.

• Support for Green Affordable Housing and Financing — calls on Congress to adopt the GREEN Act, the Energy Efficiency in Housing Act or similar legislation that would transform and modernize the U.S. housing market through the use of Energy Efficiency Mortgages and Location Efficient Mortgages while ensuring that the benefits of green buildings are accessible to Americans of all income levels through the use of standards and incentives for affordable housing projects, including green building standards for single-family or multi-family structures.

• Calling on U.S. Cities to Adopt Green Building Codes — calls on all local governments wishing to take a more holistic approach to incorporating energy efficiency, sustainable community planning and healthy and safe building practices into the codes to adopt the IGCC and consider its Standard 189.1 compliance path as base code in their jurisdiction.

• Energy Retrofit Consideration in Home Appraisal Process — calls upon Congress to pass legislation that requires licensed and certified real estate appraisers to take into consideration any renewable energy sources and energy efficiency or energy-conserving improvements when determining the value of a property and incorporates renewable energy sources and energy efficiency or energy-conserving improvements.

• Supporting Diesel Clean-Up Measures as a Near-Term Climate Change Mitigation Strategy — calls on Congress to reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act for an additional five years, and to seize other opportunities to fund diesel pollution reductions in upcoming climate legislation, transportation legislation and other appropriate legislation.

• Support for Biosolids as a Qualifying Renewable Energy Source — calls on Congress to include biosolids and biogas derived from the treatment of municipal wastewater as a qualifying renewable resource under any Federal Renewable Electricity Standard.

• Supporting Financial Prescriptions for Energy Retrofits of Existing Buildings — calls upon state legislatures who have not already done so to adopt enabling legislation to allow for Energy Financing Districts to be established in their states and encourages members of The U.S. Conference of Mayors to use Energy Financing Districts as a means to finance the retrofitting of existing buildings.

To listen to the full 90-minute forum go to the website http://usmayors.org/78thannualmeeting/specialforums.asp.