----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 9:41
AM
Subject: Re: E-M:/ How About 20%
Renewable Energy by 2008?
It would be good to see more details on
this. For example:
1) the burning of alternative fuels may be close
to carbon neutral, but the production of those fuels is not (this is one of
those cradle to grave issues that I mentioned before)
2) What means did they achieve the 20%
generation of municipal power from renewable resources. The burning
of trash is considered to be renewable. Trash incinerators don't exactly have
a good reputation. Nor do tire burners. They are renewable, but
the combustion is largely carbon sourced
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 8:25
AM
Subject: E-M:/ How About 20% Renewable
Energy by 2008?
While state House Democrats timidly offer up modest 10% renewable energy
requirements, and Senate Republicans can't break their addiction to coal and
want even weaker renewable energy legislation, Grand Rapids Mayor George
Heartwell, in his State of the City address, reports on what the City of
Grand Rapids has ALREADY accomplished on the clean energy front:
* 20% of municipal power is generated with renewable
resources.
* A 10% reduction in municipal energy consumption since Heartwell took
office
* 32% of city-owned vehicles operate using alternative fuels for all but
the coldest winter months
* hybrid busses introduced into The Rapid's fleet
*The City Commission has committed to build only LEED-certified municipal
buildings in the future. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design, a green-building standard.
* LEED standards have been incorporated in Grand Rapids' zoning
ordinance
So, Grand Rapids has already doubled the amount of energy from
renewable sources that the Democrats are proposing in their energy bills
and nearly doubled the energy efficiency savings called for in the Dem
bills. And Grand Rapids goes beyond all that with alternative fuels
and LEED-only buildings.