Arlington County Plans Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Inspired in part by former Vice President Al Gore
Arlington County Plans Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Inspired in part by former Vice President Al Gore, Arlington County officials said they plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent over the next five years.
The plan, announced by new County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson at the county's Jan. 1 meeting, calls for purchasing more wind-generated electricity, making county buildings more energy efficient and adding hybrid vehicles to the county's fleet of cars, along with other initiatives.
County residents who purchase hybrid vehicles also would receive a tax break on the county car tax under the plan. Ferguson said he was inspired to launch the initiative after seeing Gore's documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth."
"Our climate is changing, and that change is causing harm," Ferguson said. "The question is, what can each of us do to slow the trend and eventually reverse it?"
Arlington joins Montgomery County, Md., and other local governments in the Washington, D.C., region that have launched similar environmental initiatives.
The board's plan calls for the county to increase the amount of wind power it buys from 3 percent to 5 percent. The county will also refit one or two county buildings with solar technology and require all new major public buildings to be green-certified.
Plans also call for planting 1,200 trees this year and handing out 2,000 fluorescent light bulbs at local fairs and other events.
Costs for the initiative are unknown. Ferguson estimated it would entail about $5 million in upgrades to municipal buildings, which he said will be recouped in lower utility costs. The goal is to reduce energy usage in county facilities by 2 percent annually through 2012.
The energy initiatives are a natural fit for a county that prides itself on smart growth and promoting mass transit, Ferguson said. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.nbc4.com/goinggreen/10653917/detail.html?rss=dc&psp=news
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Inspired in part by former Vice President Al Gore, Arlington County officials said they plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent over the next five years.
The plan, announced by new County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson at the county's Jan. 1 meeting, calls for purchasing more wind-generated electricity, making county buildings more energy efficient and adding hybrid vehicles to the county's fleet of cars, along with other initiatives.
County residents who purchase hybrid vehicles also would receive a tax break on the county car tax under the plan. Ferguson said he was inspired to launch the initiative after seeing Gore's documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth."
"Our climate is changing, and that change is causing harm," Ferguson said. "The question is, what can each of us do to slow the trend and eventually reverse it?"
Arlington joins Montgomery County, Md., and other local governments in the Washington, D.C., region that have launched similar environmental initiatives.
The board's plan calls for the county to increase the amount of wind power it buys from 3 percent to 5 percent. The county will also refit one or two county buildings with solar technology and require all new major public buildings to be green-certified.
Plans also call for planting 1,200 trees this year and handing out 2,000 fluorescent light bulbs at local fairs and other events.
Costs for the initiative are unknown. Ferguson estimated it would entail about $5 million in upgrades to municipal buildings, which he said will be recouped in lower utility costs. The goal is to reduce energy usage in county facilities by 2 percent annually through 2012.
The energy initiatives are a natural fit for a county that prides itself on smart growth and promoting mass transit, Ferguson said. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.nbc4.com/goinggreen/10653917/detail.html?rss=dc&psp=news
posted by presgore19 at 1:57 PM
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