Media Release

12:50 p.m. 

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners are joining with local elected officials across the country this week to urge President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress to invest stimulus dollars in local climate action as a quick and effective way to create new green jobs, revitalize the economy and promote energy independence. December 8-15 is national Local Climate Action Week.  At their December 9th meeting, the County Commission is scheduled to endorse collectively what they have already endorsed individually, a national Climate Action Blueprint that emphasizes the need for federal funding for local energy conservation projects www.climatecommunities.us/endorseblueprint.html.
 
"We were pleased that candidate Barack Obama supported investment in energy-saving projects to create jobs and spur economic recovery," said County Commission Chair Mike Byerly.  "Now, we want President-Elect Obama and Congress to know that, with their help, we're ready to put hundreds of Alachua County citizens to work reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions." Byerly cited the County's Energy Conservation Strategies Commission (ECSC) report released last week as an example of Alachua County's innovative commitment to energy conservation, greenhouse gas reductions, and job creation.
 
Click below to view the ECSC final report:

 http://issuu.com/msexton/docs/ecscfinalreport. 
 
"Supporting local government action should be a top priority as Washington develops new economic stimulus, climate and energy policies," said Byerly. "Local governments deal directly with building code, transportation, and land use policies, and are on the front line coping with hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts, and other consequences of global climate change."
 
 
For more information, contact Chris Bird, Environmental Protection Director at 352-213-4987.