Title
Authorizing the Office of Financial Services to apply for and accept the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant.
Body
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council and Mayor Chris Coleman are dedicated to making Saint Paul one of the most sustainable cities in the United States and to protecting our city’s air, water, and urban landscape; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Chris Coleman signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement in 2006 and has prioritized during his administration, and the City of Saint Paul has a history of, reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; advancing clean and renewable energy; increasing energy efficiency and green development; increasing use of clean and fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; and working to create a sustainable transportation system and solid waste options; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul City Council (RES 15-2093) reaffirmed its commitment to reducing GHG; joined the Compact of Mayors; and pledged to inventory GHG emissions, establish GHG emissions reduction targets, identify climate hazards, assess climate vulnerabilities, and develop climate action and resiliency plan; and
WHEREAS, in 2016 the City conducted a GHG emissions inventory which found that a total of 3.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide was emitted annually in the city and that the transportation sector was the largest contributor with on road transportation alone making up 27% of the total emissions; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) coordinates “The Clean Diesel Program” which provides support for projects that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines and provides grants and rebates funded under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA); and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul partnered again with the Environmental Initiative, a nonprofit organization that builds partnerships to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota’s environme...
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