For Immediate Release:
February 11, 2009
Freeholder D’Amico lobbies for federal stimulus money
Funding for transportation, alternative energy projects sought
FREEHOLD – Freeholder John D’Amico returned from meetings in Washington last week to report that money from the federal stimulus package is being sought for projects in Monmouth County.
D’Amico was among about 70 mayors, county commissioners and other local officials nationwide who are involved with the Climate Communities and ICLEI USA, an association of local governments that is helping communities measure their carbon footprint and implement local climate action plans to reduce energy consumption. The group went to Washington to ensure that federal policies empower local communities with the tools and resources to get the job done.
“We delivered an important message to senators, congressmen and representatives of President Obama about directing energy program money and economic stimulus package money to towns and cities because we have projects ready to go,” D’Amico said, noting that there was a real prospect that some of the energy assistance and environmental measures might have been dropped from the Senate bill. “Having this climate leaders group, of which Monmouth County is part, lobbying for a role for local government was a very important factor in keeping the energy efficiency legislation intact.”
Local work that could be earmarked for federal stimulus money include roads, bridges, alternative energy initiatives and mass transportation projects, D’Amico said.
In addition to meeting with local representatives, among them Frank Pallone, Rush Holt and John Adler, the group met with California Sen. Barbara Boxer, an environmental advocate, and Carol Browner, who is President Obama’s assistant for energy and climate change.
“Carol Browner said President Obama is committed to developing and investing in new forms of energy while putting Americans to work building wind farms and solar plants and fuel-efficient cars,” D’Amico said. “She emphasized the need to make public buildings more efficient, to modernize our electric grid and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect natural resources.
“All of these priorities are in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction initiative of Monmouth County,” D’Amico added. “We are going to ask the GHG Reduction Advisory Committee and Planning Board to make sure that we develop a list of ready-to-go efficiency and sustainable energy infrastructure projects.”
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Advisory Committee was appointed by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in December to explore ways in which Monmouth County can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The panel comprises 27 government, business and science professionals.
D’Amico and the climate group delivered the following recommendation during their trip to Washington:
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Congress and the federal agencies should enhance federal resources for local government actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate green jobs and local economies, and promote clean energy. Desired programs include the Department of Energy (DOE) Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, the DOE Clean Cities and Alternative Vehicle programs, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Local Demonstration Pilot programs.
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Congress should adopt a national cap-and-trade program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and reinvests a major portion of the proceeds of the carbon market in research and development, technologies, and programs that help the nation shift to a green, sustainable economy. Local governments are uniquely situated to support and implement these activities at the local level, and thus federal climate legislation should “cap-and-invest” in local climate action.
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The EPA and DOE should create a new “Climate Showcase Communities” program that will provide local governments with grants to build local capacity to implement climate actions. The two agencies should also create a federal interagency roundtable that integrates federal resources for local climate action in more effective ways
- The Congress should establish new, robust incentives for cleaner, sustainable land use and growth and the deployment of cleaner alternative fuel vehicles, fleets, and infrastructure.
Monmouth County already promotes renewable energy and cost savings at the Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls, including its gas-to-energy program that harnesses methane gas produced naturally by decomposing garbage and converting it into electricity.
Additionally, the county Department of Public Works has switched to bio-diesel fuel for the county’s vehicle fleet, and last year the Highway Department stopped using rock salt treated with potentially harmful calcium and instead began using rock salt treated with magnesium chloride, which is biodegradable and does not damage grass and plants. It works better than calcium chloride, too, which means workers spend half the time applying it during a storm.
Sen. Boxer met with local climate leaders to discuss global warming legislation she plans to introduce later this year aimed at reducing GHG emissions through a transparent and accountable market-based system. “She emphasized her commitment to use revenues from the carbon market to ensure that states and localities continue their pioneering efforts to address global warming, and she pledged assistance to local government efforts to address and adapt to global warming impacts,” D’Amico said.
One of the things D’Amico plans to explore is conducting an energy audit. “Fortunately, the BPU does have a program where on a grant basis the county can have its buildings assessed for energy efficiency,” he said. “With this information, we can benefit from various programs in this economic stimulus package that will provide for retrofitting buildings, making them more efficient, and using various types of technology to reduce energy consumption and save the taxpayers money.”
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