Meeting with Governor Markell for a Comprehensive Energy and Climate Plan
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The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club joined a coalition of environmental groups in Delaware that sent a letter to Governor Markell on June 24, 2011 asking him to exercise leadership in the development and implementation of a comprehensive energy and climate change plan that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Delaware “more resilient to the dangers of climate change for generations to come.” Most of these groups met with Governor Markell on February 1, 2012 to present information about the importance of proceeding with this effort. This report documents this endeavor, and provides a foundation for moving forward in the long-range comprehensive energy and climate change planning process.
The proposed plan would incorporate the following components:
- attract renewable energy businesses and promote green job growth
- greenhouse gas reduction targets and timetable exceeding or at least comparable to what is in place
- in other states.
- renewable energy and efficiency initiatives
- energy reduction plan to achieve energy self-sufficiency and carbon neutrality in Delaware’s built
- environment by 2030
- land-use planning that directs growth toward growth zones outside environmentally sensitive areas,
- concentrating growth in core areas (saving scarce infrastructure dollars and avoiding unnecessary
- greenhouse gas emissions).
- adaptation planning for sea level rise
- do full life-cycle analyses with costs of externalities in comparing energy sources
- energy/climate education and outreach
- energy workforce training strategy
- social and economic justice
- public health and safety
The development of such a comprehensive energy and climate change plan would help to insure the quality of life for future Delawareans.
Our partner organizations in this meeting were: Clean Air Council, Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action, Delaware Audubon Society, Delaware Center for Horticulture, Delaware Chapter of the North East Energy Association, Delaware City Environmental Coalition, Delaware Interfaith Power and Light, Delaware Nature Society,Delaware Pacem in Terris, Epowrth United Methodist Church, First Unitaritan Church, Flaherty Consulting, League of Women Voters of Delaware, Limestone Presbyterian Church, Nurses Healing Our Planet (Delaware Nurses Association), Partnership for Sustainability in Delaware, Students for the Environment (S4E, University of Delaware), and Sustainable Economic Development Strategies, LLC.
Photo credit: Amy Roe
Date:
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
