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For Immediate Release |
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Levinson Signs Executive Order to Ensure Environmental Sustainability in Atlantic County
Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson issued an Executive Order today designed to ensure environmental sustainability in Atlantic County. The order recognizes the growing threat of global warming and establishes requirements for Atlantic County government to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and reliance on fossil fuels and imported oil.
According to Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County has been a leader in implementing renewable energies and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and foreign oil. "We have already started to convert our vehicular fleet to hybrid vehicles and use bio diesel fuels. What we intend to do is step up our efforts and encourage other levels of government as well as our county public authorities and schools to do the same. We want to ensure that Atlantic County is not only the greenest county in New Jersey, but the greenest county in the country," Levinson said.
The Executive Order commits Atlantic County government to enact policies and programs to meet or exceed the Kyoto Protocol target goal of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. It requires that Atlantic County accelerate its use of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as landfill methane gas recovery, wind and solar energy, hybrid vehicles, and bio fuels. It also requires that the county step up its energy conservation efforts.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere which is believed to be a major cause of global warming. The agreement became operational on February 15, 2005. At present, 169 countries and other governmental entities throughout the world have signed the protocol.
Levinson acknowledged that there are some who dispute the facts regarding global warming, but he believes there is a significant amount of credible scientific opinion that should cause even those who are in doubt to err on the isde of caution. President Bush agreed with the goals of the Kyoto Protocol but opposed it because of the exemptions granted to certain countries such as China and India, he noted.
Levinson stated that he would be willing to explore sharing of services agreements to help municipalities defray the costs of becoming more energy efficient if necessary. "I want to do whatever we can to help with the problems related to global warming and our dependence on foreign oil hoping that we will encourage others to do the same. It is our way of thinking locally but acting globally."
He added that the county intends to explore these issues in more detail at a community forum on Atlantic County's environmental future that the county plans to host in the fall in cooperation with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority.
The Executive Order, which takes effect immediately, requires county government to do the following:
1. Inventory global warming emissions in county operations, set reduction targets, and create an action plan;
2. Continue to increase the average fuel efficiency of the county vehicular fleet by acquiring hybrid vehicles whenever possible; converting diesel vehicles to bio diesel and other alternative fuels, and educating employees on how to increase vehicular mileage and reduce fuel consumption;
3. Ensure energy efficiency is a key priority by continuing to retrofit county facilities for energy efficient operation, educate employees to conserve energy at work and at home, and incorporate new energy efficiency technologies into county building improvements;
4. Practice and promote sustainable building operations by using the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or a similar system for all new county facilities, and encourage such practices throughout the county;
5. Develop and promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, trip reduction programs, and developing incentives for car pooling and public transit;
6. Require that only Energy Star or equivalent equipment and appliances are purchased for county use, when available;
7. Protect open space wherever possible, encourage urban forestry, conserve trees and promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and
8. Encourage land-use policies and practices that reduce sprawl, protect open space, and create compact, pedestrian friendly urban communities;
9. Educate our employees, the public, students, professional associations, businesses, and industry about the dangers of global warming and the actions they can take to help address the problem;
10. Encourage Atlantic County’s twenty-three municipalities to participate in the Cool Cities Program and sign on to the Climate Protection Agreement.
For more information, please contact Howard Kyle, Chief of Staff, at (609) 343-2368.
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