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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: City Light is Climate Neutral for Second Straight Year
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
8/23/2006 2:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
Peter Clarke (206) 386-4233
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City Light is Climate Neutral for Second Straight Year
First Electric Utility in the U.S. to Reach Emission Standard
SEATTLE - As part of Mayor Greg Nickels’ efforts to make Seattle a leader
in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, City Light has achieved “net
zero” greenhouse-gas emissions for second year in a row.
“We are not just talking the talk, we are walking the walk,” Nickels
said. “Along with 284 other cities across the country, we are taking
real steps to combat climate disruption.”
On Feb. 16, 2005, the day the Kyoto Treaty became law in 141 countries, Nickels
challenged his mayoral colleagues to commit each of their cities to achieving
the treaty’s target of bringing carbon emissions to 7 percent below 1990
levels by 2012. To date, 284 mayors have joined him.
Seattle is already doing its part. For the second consecutive year, Seattle
City Light has met the high standard of providing energy that is climate neutral.
This means the utility has reduced emissions of greenhouse gas to the extent
possible, and has purchased offsets for any remaining emissions.
“We knew we could take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas
pollution,” said Jorge Carrasco, superintendent of Seattle City Light. “The
Utility achieved this goal in several ways. First, it avoids producing greenhouse-gas
emissions wherever possible through conservation programs and by using renewable
resources such as hydro and wind-powered electric generation. We do emit some
greenhouse gas as a result of power purchases and operations, such as vehicles
used to maintain the electrical system. To offset these emissions, the Utility
buys greenhouse-gas emission offset credits from organizations that have reduced
their own emissions,” Carrasco added.
Customer support for conservation and renewable energy programs helps City
Light keep its emission down. This year, City Light estimates that its greenhouse
gas emissions will be about 100,000 metric tons. City Light purchased 300,000
metric tons of offsets, to cover 2006 and to apply to future years. These offsets
result from the capture and destruction of a potent greenhouse gas. These offsets
are monitored and verified by a third party.
City Light has purchased offsets from many types of projects. City Light funds
the use of biodiesel (which has a much lower emission rate than petroleum diesel)
in City vehicles, Seattle Public Utilities solid-waste trucks, and King County
Metro buses; provides cruise ships with shore power so they can shut down their
diesel engines while in port; and supports the use of cement substitute materials,
which both reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and solid waste.
“The cost of purchasing offsets is about $2 a year per customer,” said
Carrasco. “It’s a small amount to pay for the reduction of climate-altering
emissions. This utility is 90 percent hydroelectric generation. If the climate
does change, and we have less water available for City Light’s reservoirs,
our customers will spend much more for electricity generated by more expensive
means.”
For additional information about Seattle City Light’s programs to maintain
a net-zero greenhouse gas emission status, contact Lynn Best, (206) 386-4586.
Get the mayor’s inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public
safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The
Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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