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SUMMIT COUNTY - It may seem like just a drop in the bucket when it comes to a huge issue like global warming, but Frisco's recent decision to sign on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement is still a worthwhile move, said Stephen Saunders, head of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization.
"I enthusiastically applaud their decision," said Saunders, whose organization has been spreading the word about global warming impacts to the West's snowpack and water supplies. Saunders said the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization will this week release a joint report compiled with the Natural Resources Defense Council on climate- change impacts to national parks.
Frisco joins 266 other U.S. cities in agreeing to try and meet or beat Kyoto Protocol targets by adopting anti-sprawl land-use policies, with urban reforestation and public education campaigns.
At the same time, endorsement of the climate agreement means Frisco will urge the state and federal government to enact policies and programs to meet the Kyoto targets, including a seven percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2012.
Saunders said that the battle to limit global warming has to occur on all levels. In fact, cities have unique powers to affect greenhouse gas emissions that can't effectively be addressed at other levels of government, he explained.
"It's a meaningful piece," Saunders said. "One of the things it can do is show that the things that can be done make economic sense."
Frisco will conduct a global warming emissions inventory to identify the town's major greenhouse gas sources (and the greatest opportunities for reductions). The information will provide a baseline to gauge progress toward the reduction goal.
Cities can receive technical assistance to conduct an energy audit from a variety of sources, including state and federal agencies and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) through its Cities for Climate Protection program.
The town plans to start with an audit of Frisco Town Hall, the Frisco Public Works Building and other Town-owned buildings. Town staff are researching grant opportunities and free services to perform the audit.
The next step is to create a solutions plan, the town explained in a press release.
While every city's energy solutions plan is unique, most incorporate three important general strategies: green vehicle fleets, energy efficiency, and renewable energy use. In some combination, these solutions will form the foundation of the town's comprehensive energy-saving plan.
Frisco Mayor Bernie Zurbriggen urged other Summit County towns to also sign on. Silverthorne and Breckenridge already belong to the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. Breckenridge town manager Tim Gagen said his town may evaluate the standards outlined by the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at some point in the future.
"I enthusiastically applaud their decision," said Saunders, whose organization has been spreading the word about global warming impacts to the West's snowpack and water supplies. Saunders said the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization will this week release a joint report compiled with the Natural Resources Defense Council on climate- change impacts to national parks.
Frisco joins 266 other U.S. cities in agreeing to try and meet or beat Kyoto Protocol targets by adopting anti-sprawl land-use policies, with urban reforestation and public education campaigns.
At the same time, endorsement of the climate agreement means Frisco will urge the state and federal government to enact policies and programs to meet the Kyoto targets, including a seven percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2012.
Saunders said that the battle to limit global warming has to occur on all levels. In fact, cities have unique powers to affect greenhouse gas emissions that can't effectively be addressed at other levels of government, he explained.
"It's a meaningful piece," Saunders said. "One of the things it can do is show that the things that can be done make economic sense."
Frisco will conduct a global warming emissions inventory to identify the town's major greenhouse gas sources (and the greatest opportunities for reductions). The information will provide a baseline to gauge progress toward the reduction goal.
Cities can receive technical assistance to conduct an energy audit from a variety of sources, including state and federal agencies and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) through its Cities for Climate Protection program.
The town plans to start with an audit of Frisco Town Hall, the Frisco Public Works Building and other Town-owned buildings. Town staff are researching grant opportunities and free services to perform the audit.
The next step is to create a solutions plan, the town explained in a press release.
While every city's energy solutions plan is unique, most incorporate three important general strategies: green vehicle fleets, energy efficiency, and renewable energy use. In some combination, these solutions will form the foundation of the town's comprehensive energy-saving plan.
Frisco Mayor Bernie Zurbriggen urged other Summit County towns to also sign on. Silverthorne and Breckenridge already belong to the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. Breckenridge town manager Tim Gagen said his town may evaluate the standards outlined by the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at some point in the future.
