 Seattle City Light
News Release |
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| Subject:
City Light Programs Help Seattle Garner International Climate Protection Award |
For Immediate Release:
2/18/2003 12:00:00 AM |
For More Information Contact:
Scott Thomsen (206) 386-4233
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SEATTLE- Seattle City Light's bold programs addressing climate change have earned the City of Seattle a 2003 Climate Protection Award from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
"Local governments can and should be in the forefront of the fight against global warming," said City Councilmember Heidi Wills, chair of the City Council's Energy and Environmental Policy Committee. "We can make a difference."
"This is wonderful recognition for the City of Seattle and its electric utility," said City Light Superintendent Gary Zarker. "It's another achievement in our proud record of environmental stewardship."
The EPA established its Climate Protection Award program in 1998 to recognize exceptional leadership, personal dedication and technical achievements in protecting the climate. Winners this year are from China, India, Korea and the United States.
The award recognizes Seattle for three distinct initiatives. First, City Light is committed to meeting all of its growth in energy demand through renewable resources and conservation - a policy that has resulted in the largest contract for wind power of any public utility in the country and further strengthened the region's oldest and most effective conservation program.
Second, City Light will mitigate all greenhouse gas emissions from any fossil-fuel-based power it uses, making it the first electric utility in the country to commit to being climate neutral. City Light is now contracting for up to 300,000 tons of greenhouse gas reductions.
Finally, the City's recently completed inventory of all its corporate greenhouse gas emissions shows that through City Light's actions, changes in solid waste management and a logging ban in its 96,000-acre watershed, the city's emissions in 2000 were 60 percent below 1990 emission levels.
An international panel of judges - representing government, industry and nongovernmental organizations - screened applications and advised the EPA on final selection of award winners.
The 2003 Climate Protection Awards will be presented during the 2003 Earth Technologies Forum in Washington, D.C., April 22-24.
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