Feb. 04, 2009

Taking his “green” message directly to Washington, County Executive Andy Spano is joining government leaders from around the country today to personally lobby for more federal funding for local projects that will help combat climate change and create jobs.

Spano is taking part in the two-day Climate Leaders Summit where approximately 75 local elected leaders and staff will meet with members of Congress and the Obama administration. Organized by the national Climate Communities coalition, the advocacy trip is a chance to emphasize the important role local communities will play in any solutions.

Westchester County has already committed to cutting greenhouse gases by pursuing a multi-year action plan finalized in Feb. 2008 and setting out a list of projects that would improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs.  These projects are already in the county’s capital budget but need federal funds to be fully implemented.

“Local governments are key but we remain woefully short on federal funds and resources,” Spano said. “We need to present our case to the new administration and make sure they recognize the urgent need for a federal program to support our efforts. Our plans are ready to go.”

The coalition is specifically asking Obama to include $75 million a year for a “Climate Partnership Communities” initiative that would provide grants of up to $1 million to as many as 50 local governments each year. The program would also include opportunities for local federal collaboration and technical assistance, education and training.

Climate Communities members (including Spano) will meet with many key players over the next two days: Carol Browner (White House Office of Energy and Climate Policy), Senator Barbara Boxer (Chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee), Representative Peter Visclosky (Chairman of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee), members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, and senior directors at Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
  
Spano already laid the groundwork for the Washington visit last month by taking part in a national effort to urge the Obama administration to follow the recommendations of the Climate Communities and ICLEI USA, made in a report titled Empowering Local Government Climate Action: Blueprint for the New President and 111th Congress.

The plan calls for stimulus legislation to include $10 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program and $18 billion for public transit and green vehicles, and outlines other opportunities for the federal government to invest in local government innovation.