US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Seattle 2000
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Detroit 2001
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Madison 2002
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Madison (2) 2002
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Boston 2004
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Chicago 2005
US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Las Vegas 2006

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases with Clean, Reliable, Renewable Power
By Frank Giordano, Municipal Waste Management Association Trustee - May 9, 2005

While Congress and the Administration debate the likelihood of national strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, America's mayors have acted in innovative ways. City buses burn cleaner fuels. City halls practice energy conservation.

But the biggest contribution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions may come from a most unlikely place: taking out (and disposing of) the garbage. Trash pickup and disposal is a basic city service. No one is happy if the trash doesn't get picked up, and put down in a safe place. The hunt for safe, reliable and environmentally sound garbage disposal led many U.S. cities to build and operate waste-to-energy plants.

Waste-to-energy facilities produce clean, renewable energy through the combustion of municipal solid waste in specially designed power plants equipped with the most modern pollution control equipment to clean emissions. Waste-to-energy facilities reduce Trash volume is reduced by 90 percent, and the remaining residue is regularly tested and consistently meets strict EPA standards, allowing reuse or disposal in landfills.

There are 89 waste-to-energy plants operating in 27 states managing about 13 percent of America's trash, or about 95,000 tons each day. Waste-to-energy facilities generate about 2,500 megawatts of electricity to meet the power needs of nearly 2.3 million homes, and the facilities while serving the trash disposal needs of more than 36 million people. The $10 billion waste-to-energy industry employs more than 6,000 American workers with annual wages in excess of $400 million.

There are numerous benefits to waste-to-energy facilities, but one of the biggest — and until now most overlooked — is its contribution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere.

How does waste-to-energy reduce Greenhouse Gases emitted into the atmosphere?

When trash decomposes, it produces methane — a powerful greenhouse gas. Waste-to-energy facilities avoid land disposal, and thus the potential methane emissions. Similarly, the electricity produced by waste-to-energy facilities displaces burning of fossil fuels for energy and the carbon dioxide that otherwise would be emitted from conventional power plants.

The resulting greenhouse gas savings are significant. The use of waste-to-energy technology prevents the release of forty million metric tons of greenhouse gases in the form of carbon dioxide equivalents that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere on an annual basis, according to an analysis developed by the EPA and the Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA).

Annual reporting by IWSA to the U.S. Department of Energy's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program confirms that waste-to-energy also prevents the release each year of nearly 24,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 2.6 million tons of volatile organic compounds from being released into entering the atmosphere each year.

Researchers also looked at the savings gained by operation of a waste-to-energy facility operating near Boston. The Saugus, Massachusetts, waste-to-energy plant safely handles 1,500 tons of trash each day and generates 37 megawatts of power.

The analysis, using a model developed by EPA, included information about alternative landfill disposal, plant emissions, trash composition and other plant's specific data. The study determined that the release of more than 270,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions are avoided annually because of this one plant's operations. Company officials currently are talking to greenhouse gas credit brokers about marketing the reductions to buyers of GHG credits.

Cities with waste-to-energy facilities may soon be able to take real credit for the greenhouse gas savings attributable to their disposal plants. While there are only a few voluntary markets for greenhouse gas credits in America at the moment, a future marketplace is nonetheless expected to be robust. Buying and selling of greenhouse gases emissions credits offers cities financial reward for good city planning.

Studies have quantified greenhouse gas avoidance credits attributable to the waste-to-energy facilities. Such studies show that America's cities have taken center stage with efforts to control global warming, and waste-to-energy facilities play an important role in those efforts.

Frank Giordano is a Trustee of the Municipal Waste Management Association, the environmental affiliate of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. He serves as Executive Director of the Pollution Control Financing Authority of Camden County, New Jersey.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Seattle 2000

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
SUPPORTING RENEWABLE ENERGY

WHEREAS, many municipalities and local communities have adopted an integrated waste management approach that includes renewable energy sources such as waste-to-energy facilities and electricity produced from landfill gas; and

WHEREAS, each community must ensure the delivery of essential services such as electricity while providing a clean environment; and

WHEREAS, renewable energy sources can provide a number of benefits to the public, including utilization of indigenous natural resources; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, while increasing fuel diversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) defines renewable energy as "electricity generated from biomass, waste, renewable resources to include wind and solar, geothermal resources, or any combination thereof;" and the Federal Power Act Amendments of 1978 includes biomass in its definition of renewable energy; and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Regulations define biomass energy as "Any primary source which, on the basis of its energy content, is 50 percent or more biomass..."; and, the Department of Energy defines biomass as including municipal solid waste, noting that about 80 percent of the dry weight of municipal solid waste is organic (biomass-derived) materials,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports federal legislation that promotes renewable energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass in its various forms including electricity generated from landfill gas, waste-to-energy, and agricultural and wood waste; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges federal and state lawmakers to ensure that any restructuring legislation proposals include provisions to preserve and protect existing capacity of renewable energy resources.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Detroit 2001

ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

SUPPORTING THE BENEFITS OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY AND LANDFILL GAS AS CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS

WHEREAS, many municipalities and local communities have adopted an integrated waste management approach that includes biomass and gasification facilities such as waste-to-energy and landfill gas recovery projects that generate clean, renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, local communities provide for a wide range of waste management and related environmental programs, including residential and commercial collections; source-separated recycling; environmental education; litter and illegal dumping clean-up; site remediation and household hazardous waste collections; and

WHEREAS, renewable energy sources provide a number of benefits, including reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, while increasing fuel diversity; reducing greenhouse gas emissions to provide for a clean environment; as well as the utilization of non-fossil natural resources; and

WHEREAS, some communities share in the energy revenues generated from the sale of electricity from these biomass and gasification facilities that help defray the cost of many of the waste management and environmental programs required by local governments; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has long held that waste-to energy and landfill gas recovery projects are included in the renewable definition of biomass;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports all federal legislation that promotes the benefits of renewable energy such as waste-to-energy gasification and landfill gas recovery projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports federal legislation that also provides for production and investment credits for local entities and production tax credits for all forms of biomass and gasification technologies including waste-to-energy and landfill gas recovery projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges federal lawmakers to ensure that any legislation that promotes renewable energy or provides for production tax credits and refundable production credits include provisions to expand the biomass definition to include all forms of biomass and gasification energy.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Madison 2002 

RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD (RPS)

WHEREAS, communities nationwide have adopted an integrated waste management approach that includes renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, waste-to-energy, gasification, bio-solids and landfill gas recovery projects that are compatible with recycling programs and generate energy from waste; and

WHEREAS, local communities must ensure the delivery of essential services such as electricity, residential and commercial waste collection and disposal, source-separated recycling programs and environmental education; and

WHEREAS, renewable energy sources can provide a number of benefits to the community, including a reliable clean source of power while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, conserving valuable landfill space and preserving our natural resources; and

WHEREAS, many communities have invested in these clean renewable projects to help manage their municipal solid waste with the assurance that long-term contracts for the sale of electric power under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) would always be available; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress has held that if electricity markets are deregulated and made more competitive, PURPA would be repealed causing some communities economic harm,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports federal and state legislation that promotes a marketplace for renewable energy sources by establishing renewable portfolio standards for all qualified renewable facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges federal lawmakers to ensure that all renewable energy technologies, including geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, waste-to-energy and landfill gas projects, be treated equally under any federal renewable mandate.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Madison (2) 2002  

MUNICIPAL AND NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES 

WHEREAS, the scientific community has reached a consensus that human activities are impacting the Earth's climate which has already warmed by a half to one full degree Fahrenheit during the 20th century with the potential of much greater warming in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, global climate change is caused by emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from energy used by the business, transportation, and residential sectors, as well as methane from the decay of waste; and

WHEREAS, global climate change caused by greenhouse gases threaten the health and safety of our cities and communities; and

WHEREAS, while global climate change is a national and international issue, there are opportunities for local governments and others to reduce these negative consequences for cities; and

WHEREAS, global climate change, is linked to emerging infectious diseases, like West Nile virus, which place a growing burden on cities and communities to engage in measures to protect the health of residents; and

WHEREAS, global climate change is also associated with air pollution and elevated rates of respiratory problems such as asthma and lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, global climate change could also increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that result in costly disasters such as flooding and severe drought; and

WHEREAS, recognizing that mayors are uniquely situated to lead national climate protection efforts by taking action in a broad range of areas; and

WHEREAS, more aggressive energy conservation efforts can save money and resources, and the promotion of cleaner energy technologies can stimulate local industries and provide jobs; and

WHEREAS, many mayors are already pursuing programs and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their cities and communities, including more than 125 local governments that have committed to assessing emissions, setting a specific reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions and monitoring progress,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on cities and communities to join the commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adopting policies that encourage energy conservation and a reduction in municipal energy use, by adopting standards for energy efficiency in buildings and use of renewable energy resources, and by reducing fuel consumption through broader commitments to public transit and other alternatives to automobiles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Conference recommends that the federal government continue its climate research to improve scientific understanding of global climate change and continue to assess the potential economic and environmental consequences of proposed policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Conference believes that state and federal government should provide new resources and incentives to local governments for the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures and for local energy and air pollution research to develop new, cost-effective approaches that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and engage in public-private partnerships that foster innovative technologies to combat global climate change.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Boston 2004 

2004 Adopted Resolutions
72nd Annual Meeting
Boston

SUPPORTING THE RECOGNITION OF GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION BENEFITS OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

WHEREAS, many local communities and municipalities have adopted an integrated waste management approach that includes development and operation of renewable energy technologies such as waste-to-energy and electricity produced from landfill gas; and

WHEREAS, each community should strive to ensure safe disposal of solid waste and generation of electricity for its residents from clean energy sources; and

WHEREAS, renewable energy sources such as waste-to-energy and electricity produced from landfill gas provide a number of environmental benefits including utilization of indigenous natural resources, reduced dependence on imported foreign energy supply, increasing domestic fuel diversity, and significant reduction in the potential for release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other experts in the field of greenhouse gas emissions have studied waste-to-energy’s ability to avoid the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and found that facilities nationwide annually avoid the release into the atmosphere of more than 40 million metric tons of carbon dioxide or its equivalent, a potent greenhouse gas; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Congress, and many states, counties, and local governments are considering the adoption of policy, legislation, and regulations to quantify the reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions from various technologies and management methods, and in some cases assign greenhouse gas credits for the reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the atmosphere,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors recognizes the significant contribution provided by waste-to-energy and electricity produced by landfill gas in avoiding the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Congress, states, counties and local governments to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by the use of waste-to-energy and electricity produced from landfill gas using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology or similar method, and to grant these technologies the same incentives as provided in policy, legislation and regulation to other technologies or methods that reduce or avoid release of greenhouse gases.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Chicago 2005 

2005 ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS
ENVIRONMENT

ENDORSING THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted strong policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution; and

WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 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; and

WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40 percent decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade; and

WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the scientific community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or droughts; sea level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves; more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and

WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141 countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and

WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent of the world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent of the world’s global warming pollutants; and

WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S. would have been 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and

WHEREAS, many leading US companies that have adopted greenhouse gas reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly expressed preference for the US to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and timetables as a means by which to remain competitive in the international marketplace, to mitigate financial risk and to promote sound investment decisions; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States are adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is bipartisan, coming from Republican and Democratic governors and mayors alike; and

WHEREAS, many cities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy technologies; and

WHEREAS, mayors from around the nation have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which, as amended at the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, reads: The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and bio-fuels; B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and C. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as: 1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan. 2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walk able urban communities; 3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit; 4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags”, advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology; 5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money; 6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use; 7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system; 8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel; 9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production; 10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community; 11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and 12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting and urges mayors from around the nation to join this effort.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will work in conjunction with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate organizations to track progress and implementation of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

US Conference of Mayors Adopted Resolutions – Las Vegas 2006

ESTABLISHING A NEW MUNICIPAL ENERGY AGENDA TO HELP ADDRESS THE NATION’S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND IMPROVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

WHEREAS, in recent years, the nation has faced unprecedented energy challenges, including rapidly escalating energy costs and critical choices about energy resources that will affect the nation’s future economic well-being and security; and

WHEREAS, many of the nation’s mayors are concerned about the fact that high energy costs have a direct and substantial impact on the economic well-being of local economies, including an adverse impact on local governments who rely on energy to carry out critical municipal operations, on working families who must contribute higher percentages of family incomes towards the payment of energy bills, and on local businesses who experience increases in the cost of doing business as a result of higher energy prices; and

WHEREAS, on May 10-11, 2006, a group of the nation’s mayors gathered in Chicago for the U.S. Conference of Mayors National Summit on Energy and Environment in order to share best local energy practices, work towards reducing local energy costs, and collectively commit to improving the nation’s energy future from the local level; and

WHEREAS, the Summit demonstrated that many mayors are already taking innovative actions at the local level to help decrease energy costs, improve the environment, and increase energy choices for municipalities, residents and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Summit also demonstrated that many mayors are fully committed to increasing their leadership role in the effort to address the nation’s energy challenges in an environmentally sustainable way and improve their communities; and

WHEREAS, the Summit demonstrated that there are numerous opportunities for mayors to take actions at the local level including the following:

REDUCING ENERGY USAGE: Mayors can reduce municipal energy usage and thereby reduce municipal energy costs by setting aggressive targets for reducing overall municipal energy usage and taking steps towards accomplishing that goal by installing energy-saving measures in all municipal facilities, such as programmable thermostats, energy efficient lighting, lighting sensors, whole-building automation systems, and centralized energy monitoring systems.

b) PROMOTING GREEN BUILDINGS: The building sector accounts for more than 48% of the nation’s energy use and 76% of U.S. electricity use, and therefore presents an enormous opportunity for significantly reducing energy costs, improving the environment, improving building operations, and increasing the amount of funds in local economies that are available for expenditure on goods and services other than energy. Mayors can work towards establishing or expanding upon local goals and incentives for green buildings, and should strive to set a goal of using 30% less energy for every new municipal facility.

ENSURING RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE: As low-income and working families face the challenge of paying increasingly higher energy bills, mayors can initiate or expand upon local efforts to encourage investment in residential weatherization measures that can help to substantially reduce energy costs. In addition, mayors should continue to be strong advocates for increasing the amount of federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: Mayors can enhance voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions either on their own, or by taking actions in accordance with the The US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement or by joining structured programs like the Chicago Climate Exchange. Mayors can also strive to adopt carbon neutral building standards and codes.

ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY IN ENERGY GENERATION: Traditional forms of energy generation, including coal, nuclear and natural gas, will continue to play a critical role in providing power to the nation for many years to come, and when appropriate, mayors can take steps to encourage local utilities to improve existing facilities. At the same time, renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar power, waste-to-energy and geothermal, are becoming more widely available and more cost-effective, and mayors can set goals to encourage diversification of their local energy supply resources.

IMPROVING MUNICIPAL VEHICLE FLEETS: Mayors can strive to replace or retrofit municipal fleets with clean fuels, clean vehicle technologies and emission control technologies, such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, ethanol, compressed natural gas, clean diesel, retrofit technologies and other alternatives to vehicles.

ENCOURAGING INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY: Mayors can encourage automakers to make vehicles more fuel efficient and encourage government, residents and businesses to purchase vehicles that achieve maximum fuel efficiency.

INVESTING IN TRANSIT AND WALKABLE COMMUNITIES: Mayors can actively encourage increased funding for and use of public transportation, work towards building more walk able communities, and promote car sharing, biking and alternative forms of transit.

SHARING BEST ENERGY PRACTICES AMONG CITIES: Mayors can increase efforts to share best energy practices among each other so they can benefit from the experience and progress of their fellow mayors.

ENCOURAGING PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES: Mayors can use their own municipal energy initiatives to demonstrate to businesses and residents how to make smart energy choices, and mayors can provide incentives to the private sector, such as implementing green building permit programs, adopting energy efficient and conservation building codes, and developing energy efficiency standards for construction supported by city assistance, such as affordable housing grants or loans, tax increment financing assistance, or other types of financial assistance.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the nation’s mayors are committed to increasing their leadership role in helping to address the nation’s energy challenges from the local level; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there are numerous opportunities for mayors to initiate or expand upon actions at the local level to address the nation’s energy and environmental challenges and improve local communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The US Conference of Mayors endorses the
above ten initiatives as a guide for the nation’s mayors, and encourages the nation’s mayors to adopt these principles to establish and expand upon local energy programs that address the nation’s energy and environmental challenges and improve local communities.