The Town of Los Gatos announced Oct. 29 that it will be the first municipality in Santa Clara County to proactively address the town’s greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. As a Pacific Gas and Electric customer, the town has signed up for a voluntary program, called ClimateSmart, aimed at making the town’s energy use “carbon-neutral.” ClimateSmart is open to residential and commercial customers, as well. With ClimateSmart, PG&E will add a small fee to a customer’s bill, and the money will go to environmental projects that either remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or stop their emission in the first place.
Mayor Barbara Spector, in announcing the town’s participation, challenged other towns in Silicon Valley to do their share.
“The Town of Los Gatos is proud to be the first in Santa Clara County to…make the commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming,” Mayor Spector said. Spector was a founder of the grass roots West Valley Green Leaf Committee. “These efforts will increase the quality of life for our community and communities around the world.”
The town signed up all of its eligible electric and natural gas metered accounts. ClimateSmart is the latest of several green initiatives in town. Los Gatos participates in the U. S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, it is certified as a Green Business, and in December, the town’s Christmas Tree will be lit with LED instead of incandescent lights.
The Sempervirens Fund is one of the first beneficiaries of the ClimateSmart program, which began in June 2007. Los Gatos resident Kevin Flynn, a Sempervirens Fund board member, said that PG&E is “helping to define a new way of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.” Sempervirens, founded in 1900, has been instrumental in protecting forest lands, such as Saratoga’s Big Basin.
“As a resident,” Flynn said, “Thanks to the town.”
“Two-thirds of our carbon footprint comes from natural gas,” explains Robert Parkhurst, PG&E’s manager of climate protection and analysis. “PG&E is the first utility in the nation to offer this kind of program.” ClimateSmart helps to develop a “voluntary carbon market,” according to Parkhurst. For the first time, trees contribution to the environment has a dollar value attached. This new venture is part of something called “eco-asset valuation.”
“Residents of Los Gatos are very environmentally sensitive, and they want to see their town taking leadership,” Parkhurst said. The press conference was attended by Mayor Spector, Town Manager Greg Larson, interim assistant to the manager Alana Forrest, Community Services Director Regina Falkner, and Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso. Los Gatos resident Mary Ellen Ittner also attended the event, in her capacity as PG&E’s Public Affairs Director.
“The Town of Los Gatos’ decision to enroll in the ClimateSmart program positions it at the forefront of a growing movement,” said PG&E’s Parkhurst.
“I’m very proud to be associated with Los Gatos,” Sempervirens’ Flynn said.
By Alastair Dallas
Sourced From
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