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U.S. Mayors Turf Tar Sands Oil: Local Leaders Adopt Important Global Warming Policy
Mayors Challenge Use of Tar Sands Oil and Other High Carbon Fuels
by NRDC.org The U.S. Conference of Mayors convened in Miami this weekend and adopted a resolution that challenges the use of high carbon fuels such as tar sands, liquid coal, and oil shale.
The resolution calls for the creation of guidelines and purchasing standards to help mayors understand the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of the fuels they purchase.
MIAMI (June 23, 2008) - These unconventional and synthetic fuels are derived from
difficult-to-access, lower-grade raw materials, and production can emit
two-to-five times more global warming pollution than conventional oil.
"In
the last few years, U.S. mayors have come out as leaders on
environmental initiatives, specifically in the fight to stop global
warming," said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz a senior attorney at the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "Mayors see their residents' needs
every day, and they see the impact that global warming is going to have
on their cities. Thats why over 850 mayors across the nation already
have taken action on climate change. This resolution will help
implement their commitment to fight global warming by giving mayors the
information they need about dirty fuels such as tar sands oil.
The resolution:
encourages fuel lifecycle emissions analyses that include emissions from production, not just from burning the fuel;
supports Federal and State guidelines for tracking the origin of various types of fuel;
encourages
mayors to track and reduce lifecycle emissions from their cities
municipal vehicles, paying special attention to the use of
unconventional and synthetic fuels.
"We don't want to spend
taxpayer dollars on fuels that make global warming worse," said Mayor
Kitty Piercy, of Eugene, Oregon, who submitted the resolution. "Tar
sands oil emits up to three times the greenhouse gases in the
production process per barrel as conventional oil production. Our
cities are asking for environmentally sustainable energy and not fuels
from dirty sources such as tar sands."
"The mayors have once
again confirmed that they're serious about combating climate change,"
said Mayor Marty Blum of Santa Barbara, California. "Not only will we
give preference to clean, renewable energy sources, we are standing our
ground when it comes to synthetic petroleum-based fuels that exacerbate
global warming."
"Global warming is the one of the most
critical issues facing our cities," said Mayor Frank Cownie of Des
Moines, IA. "This resolution shows our willingness to take action to
move forward - not backwards which is where fuels such as tar sands oil
will take us."
The High Carbon Fuels Resolution was
submitted by Mayor Piercy of Eugene, OR and co-sponsored by 10 other
mayors:
Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, CA; Mayor Frank Cownie of
Des Moines, IA; Mayor Marty Blum of Santa Barbara, CA; Mayor Jennifer
Hosterman of Pleasanton, CA; Mayor Larry Nelson of Waukesha, WI; Mayor
Douglas Palmer of Trenton, NJ; Mayor Roy Buol of Dubuque, IA; Mayor
Christopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, CA; Mayor Dan Coody of
Fayetteville, AR; Mayor Will Wynn of Austin, TX; and Beverly Johnson of
Alameda, CA.
The
Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization
of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to
protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has
1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New
York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Josh Mogerman in Chicago, 312-780-7424; Elizabeth Heyd in Washington, DC 202/289-2424
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