Jan. 29, 2007 - 21:15 MST

WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS

It's not a big town, but a supremely rich residential one. Seems as if they have given their city pooh bahs the go ahead to get real for a change. An article by The Associated Press in The Rocky Mountain News this morning gives an idea of what is going on in Ski-town U.S.A. Quoted in full here:

ASPEN STICKS TO CLIMATE PLEDGE

Despite penalty, city stands by vow to curb emissions

ASPEN -- "The Aspen City Council has agreed to stay in the Chicago Climate Exchange, which means the mountain resort must cut its greenhouse gas emissions or pay up."

"Aspen already has paid a $1,200 penalty and a membership fee of $5,000 when it joined the exchange last year."

"Dan Richardson, the city's global warming project manager, said it's a small price to pay for long-term benefits."

"The fact that it's a legally binding commitment gives it more weight," Richardson said. "It holds our feet to the fire."

"Aspen's goals include reducing city government's emissions by 1 percent a year over the first phase, from 1999 to 2006."

"Although Richardson estimates the city's reduction was higher than that last year, it's still playing catch up, so it had to pay a penalty."

"The Chicago Climate Exchange was set up for American companies and other entities that want to voluntarily curb their greenhouse gas releases."

"Most scientists worldwide agree the global temperature is rising and blame increasing levels of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, that are released by the burning of fossil fuels and trap the Earth's heat."

"In Aspen, all city departments have an emissions cap. Some struggle to stay under the cap while others have no problem."

"Departments that are over the cap are allowed to trade with those that are under to balance out the city's overall rate."

"Richardson said he believes Aspen's program and others like it send a message to other communities and state and federal officials about the need to take responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At least there is one ski town in our state that is trying to do what they think is right. Hope more resort areas take the challenge and do likewise.

Possibly then some of the bigger towns and cities will "go thou and do likewise."

Maybe if enough companies and cities join the fray, evidence will prove there is actually something to that line of thought -- that the climatologists and other scientists have been telling us all these years.

At least, here is one town who is putting their money WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blog