Boston Mayor Announces Additional Initiatives to Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions

15 April 2007

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, joined by US Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA), announced a set of initiatives designed to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petroleum.

The initiatives announced by Mayor Menino are designed to strengthen and improve the efforts the city already has underway. Among its other current initiatives, Boston was the first city in the nation to implement green building zoning based on LEED standards, and is also the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy and biodiesel in New England.

The new set of initiatives include:

• Expanding and strengthening emissions reduction goals from 7% below 1990 levels by 2012 (the Kyoto Protocol), to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050;

• Requiring all purchases of motor vehicles be alternative fuel, flexible fuel, or hybrid vehicles, unless they are not available for the needed function;

• Requiring municipal departments to include a minimum of 11.7% of power generated from renewable resources and that by 2012 at least 15% come from renewable sources;

• Requiring all new construction and major renovation of City facilities to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, exceeding the basic standard for energy performance by at least 14% and all major renovations must exceed the basic standard by 7%;

• Designing and implementing programs to increase recycling of all materials by 10% by 2012;

• Evaluating the feasibility of installing solar, wind, combined heat and power, and green roof installations;

• Working with the Kendall Foundation Boston will implement a large-scale, cross-sector conservation initiative involving citywide energy efficiency; and

• Establishing a “Climate Action Advisory Panel,” which will complete emissions inventories, prepare and distribute education materials to residents and businesses, and identify and work with businesses to develop economic and workforce  opportunities.