Title
Accepting a City Energy Project Grant from the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Body
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council and Mayor Chris Coleman are committed to making Saint Paul one of the most sustainable cities in the United States and to protecting the city's air, water and urban landscape; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Chris Coleman signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement in 2006 and has prioritized reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, advancing clean and renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and green development, increasing use of clean energy by and the fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles, and working to create a sustainable transportation system and solid waste options; and
WHEREAS, in December 2015 Mayor Chris Coleman signed, with the support of the Saint Paul City Council (RES 15-2093), the Compact of Mayors, an agreement among a global coalition of mayors and city officials pledging to reduce local GHG emissions, enhance resiliency to climate change and track their progress transparently; and
WHEREAS, by signing the Compact of Mayors, the City of Saint Paul reaffirmed its commitment to reducing GHG and pledged to meet a series of ambitious milestones outlined in the Compact which include establishing GHG emissions targets, identifying climate hazards, assessing climate vulnerabilities and developing climate action and resiliency plans to report annually on progress; and
WHEREAS, the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have established the City Energy Project (CEP) which is a national initiative to create healther and more prosperous American cities by improving the energy efficiency of large buildings in both the public and private sectors. Funding for CEP is provided jointly by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Kresge Foundation; and
WHEREAS, IMT and NRDC have selected the City of Saint Paul to join the City Energy Project and will provide funds toward a technical advisor--likely to be housed in a partner agency--and other technical assistance and resources to advance energy efficiency in large buildings; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council accepts this grant and hereby authorizes the appropriate City officials to enter into a grant agreement with the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council.