Press Release - Earth Day Celebration and Carbon Offset
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OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BILL RITTER, JR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009
CONTACTS:
Sue Cobb, 720.865.9016, sue.cobb@denvergov.org
Todd Hartman, 303.866.2262, todd.hartman@state.co.us
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER & MAYOR HICKENLOOPER CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH $100,000 CARBON OFFSET DONATION, RELEASE OF DNC GREENING REPORT
Audio:
Celebrating Earth Day in Denver's Civic Center Park, Mayor John Hickenlooper and Gov. Bill Ritter today announced a $100,000 donation from the Democratic National Convention's 2008 Host Committee for New Energy Economy carbon-offset projects.
Also today, the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, Gov. Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper reported on the lasting successes of community efforts to make the 2008 Convention the greenest in history.
"The Host Committee's generous donation to the Colorado Carbon Fund completes our efforts to ensure that locally sponsored activities around the 2008 Convention were carbon-neutral," Mayor Hickenlooper said. "This is a huge accomplishment; our community and state can be very proud." The Mayor also praised Camco Global for its voluntary measurement and monitoring of the Convention's carbon footprint.
Gov. Ritter thanked the Host Committee and Mayor Hickenlooper for supporting the Colorado Carbon Fund, which will continue the Governor's New Energy Economy efforts to make renewable energy and energy efficiency more affordable and available to all of Colorado.
"Colorado's New Energy Economy and the Colorado Carbon Fund are leading Colorado forward thanks to locally developed clean technologies that are helping to create good jobs and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions," Gov. Ritter said. "The DNC and the partnerships that led to this $100,000 donation are a great example of how we can be better environmental stewards while also strengthening our economy."
DONATION TO COLORADO CARBON FUND
The donation from the Host Committee compensates for 4,976 metric tons of carbon dioxide -- at a rate of $20 per ton -- tied to emissions from travel, vehicle use and other non-electricity sources from Host Committee-related activities and events. An additional 3,882 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were offset by donations of renewable electricity from Xcel Energy, Public Service Company of New Mexico and its parent company, PNM Resources.
Mike Dino, the 2008 Convention Host Committee CEO, said this donation is the final step in its greening commitment for the Convention. "The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee practiced greening from beginning to end, from the inside out. We implemented a Sustainability Management System in our offices and used environmentally responsible approaches whenever possible for organizing activities. Then, after the convention folded up its tents and left town, and we had prevented all of the negative environmental impact we could, we zero'd out the carbon impact for which the Host Committee was responsible with a $99,520 investment in the Colorado Carbon Fund."
The Colorado Carbon Fund, established by the Governor's Energy Office (GEO), will direct the donation to support new energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Colorado. The Host Committee selected the Colorado Carbon Fund to offset the carbon footprint of the event because the homegrown focus of the fund means new energy projects will be developed locally. Twenty percent of Denver's donations to the Fund will return to the City to support its Greenprint Denver Climate Action Plan and other program initiatives.
"As a founding member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, PNM Resources supports both policies and actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere," said Jeff Sterba, chairman and CEO of PNM Resources. "Toward that end, we are proud to have helped reduce the carbon footprint of the 2008 Democratic National Convention through the contribution of renewable energy credits from the New Mexico Wind Energy Center."
DENVER 2008 CONVENTION GREENING REPORT
The Denver 2008 Convention Greening Report released today details the planning, successes and lessons learned from massive community efforts to make the Convention the greenest in history, Mayor Hickenlooper said. "Our goals were straightforward: to minimize the environmental burden of the Convention on Denver and create a positive legacy that would endure well beyond the event. Thanks to incredible work of hundreds of people -- and terrific support by Gov. Ritter and his team -- we succeeded."
The report also summarizes lasting initiatives resulting from Convention greening efforts, including:
- The Greener Denver Business Program -- A Denver Office of Economic Development program to encourage, measure and monitor the efficiency and conservation efforts of local businesses.
- Rocky Mountain Greener Venues Partnership -- A partnership of 10 major events and sporting facilities that have pledged to practice environmental stewardship in nine areas.
- A new Colorado Chapter of the Green Meeting Industry Council created by event and meeting planners who initially came together during the Convention planning.
- Denver Bike Sharing -- One of the first citywide bike sharing systems in the U.S. by a major city.
- VISIT DENVER online event and travel carbon calculators -- A partnership with the Colorado Carbon Fund and the first of their kind to be hosted by a major U.S. metropolitan convention bureau, available to resident and guest travelers and event organizers.
- A Sustainable Events Guide for all planners.
"These initiatives are the true legacy of our efforts to green the Convention," Mayor Hickenlooper said. "They will benefit our community and our region well into the future. We thank the metro Denver community for believing it was possible for Denver to host the greenest convention ever and for joining with us to make it happen."