FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aspen Mayor Proposes Bold Steps to Reduce the City’s Global Warming Pollution

Contact: Dan Richardson 970/920-5071

Aspen, CO—The city of Aspen's Canary Initiative announced the release of the Aspen Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2004—a report detailing the sources and amounts of global warming pollution for which the Aspen community is responsible—which is part of the city’s local action plan generated, in part, through its participation in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection® Campaign.

Aspen is not the first city to conduct such a study; however, the comprehensiveness of the project is unmatched. Aspen has chosen to take responsibility for energy use typically excluded from such inventories. This report includes the greenhouse gas emissions not only from buildings and local transportation, but it also includes emissions from air travel to and from the city as well as commuter traffic and tourists traveling by automobile.

This comprehensive inventory of Aspen’s greenhouse gas emissions reveals that the community emitted 840,875 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent in 2004. Nearly all of the emissions (97%) were carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas), with 3% in the form of methane (from the landfill) and nitrous oxide (from fertilizer). Millions of routine acts of energy use, from flying to driving to electricity use at home and work contributed to this total.

The top source of global warming pollution in the Aspen area was air travel, followed by car travel, and then electricity use. Aspen generated about twice the heat-trapping emissions per person as the US per person average. This is largely due to the fact that Aspen’s tourism-based economy relies extensively on air travel, both commercial and private. How much heat-trapping pollution each person is responsible for depends on how much the person flies and drives, what kind of car they drive, how large their home is, how they heat it, and so on. Residents can calculate their own emissions at www.aspenglobalwarming.com as well as learn about some simple steps they can take to reduce these emissions.

Existing local efforts have already reduced Aspen’s emissions significantly from what they would be otherwise. For example, investment in renewable energy from electric utilities and their customers reduced 2004 emissions by over 30,000 tons. Recycling efforts in the Aspen community alone reduced 2004 emissions by over 4,881 tons. Ridership on RFTA (that is attributable to Aspen) reduced 2004 emissions by over 6,811 tons. Local businesses have made significant contributions as well. The best example is Aspen Skiing Company’s investment into renewable energy, which has meant 10% fewer emissions from their operations.

Aspen is committed to stepping up its efforts to address global warming. Aspen plans to increase its wind power by 20% and will solicit bids for construction on a new hydro power plant in 2006. This will bring the percentage of the city’s power coming from renewable energy up to over 70%, one of the largest proportions among U.S. cities.

“Aspen is committed to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to protect Aspen from the potentially disastrous impacts of global warming,” said Mayor Klanderud. “We are soliciting ideas from city residents and visitors, and experts and leaders in transportation, building efficiency and power generation. As a first aggressive step, I will propose to city council that it adopt a resolution to commit to 100% renewable energy by 2015.”

The Mayor will also propose that Aspen set a goal of providing 100% renewable energy by 2015. In addition, the city is encouraging residents and visitors to learn how to cut their own emissions and utility bills at www.aspenglobalwarming.com.

Global warming poses serious threats to Aspen’s environment, economy, and quality of life. As part of the Canary Initiative, the City plans to aggressively reduce global warming pollution from city-owned buildings and fleets, as well as assist the community at large in reducing its global warming pollution to minimize the impacts of this threat.

The City of Aspen hosted the first in a series of forums on February 15, 2006 to discuss an emissions reduction target for the city and how best to reduce its global warming pollution.

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