Cape May Mayor Pens Climate Protection Pact

CAPE MAY — Mayor Jerome E. Inderwies became one of 450 mayors in the nation to sign the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement to take action to reduce global warming.
“Today in my estimation is a very significant day as you sign that on behalf of the city,” said Charlotte Todd, chair of the city’s Energy Committee at the Aug. 7 city council meeting.
The United States, under both the Bush and Clinton Administrations did not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which has been signed by 141 other countries. Of that, 38 countries are legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
The emissions reduction for the U.S. would have been 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 had the U.S. agreed to it.
Under the U.S. Conference of Mayors agreement, participating cities commit to take the following three actions:
• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policy, planting of trees, undertake public information campaigns, promote bicycle use, make energy efficiency a priority thorough building code improvements, retrofit city facilities with energy efficient lighting, urge employees to conserve energy, practice and promote “green” buildings under the LEED program, increase efficiency of municipal vehicles and increase recycling.
• Urge their state governments and the federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol, a 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012.
• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.
The agreement notes the international community’s most respected assemblage of scientists has found that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution.
Todd has been holding meetings with guest speakers providing information on wind, solar, and wave power. The committee has been looking at methods for the city and its residents to save energy.
It has encouraged the use of fluorescent light bulbs and sent a brochure with city tax bills explaining how residents could switch their power supplier to wind power from Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority and other sources.
Enough residents have switched their power supplier to qualify Cape May as a “Cool City,” one of only 10 municipalities in the state, said Todd.
The mayor also agreed to look at sample ordinances provided by environmental attorney Susan Kurkowski to make Cape May a “greener city,” by using renewable energy systems.
Inderwies said the signing the agreement “was a start.”
Deputy Mayor Niels Favre suggested incorporating “green” in the 2008 budget, so the city looks for opportunities to utilize technology such as solar panels and hybrid cars.
Those interested in switching to clean, renewable energy source for electricity, can visit: www.NJCleanPower.com or call 1-866-NJSMART.