Rupert goes Green as council endorses Task Force recommendations

If he weren't so busy with other matters, soon to be former Liberal leader Stephane Dion might have sent a telegram and perhaps once Carbon Tax devotee Premier Gordon Campbell is no longer busy trying to figure out where the economy is going, he might send his salutations as well.

The City of Prince Rupert has adopted the principles of the green shift, unanimously supporting the plan to reduce our carbon footprint on our part of the world, which was submitted by the Green Advisory Task Force Committee.

.

With much praise from councillors, the made in Prince Rupert solution was hailed as a fine example for others that even small communities can make a difference.

The outline of council's impressions were provided by the Daily News in Wednesday's paper.

Council backs plan to turn the city a little 'greener'
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Pages one and three

Prince Rupert council likes the idea of a green shift, and unanimously supported a plan that was submitted by the Green Advisory Task Force Committee at the last council meeting.

Several members of the committee were on-hand for the presentation, but it was Devlin Fernandes who handled most of the speaking.

"The public has been involved throughout the process, and it's synonymous with a community economic plan," she said.

The reason behind the initial formation of the committee was fairly simple - Rupert's growing concern with the effects of global warming, and what could be done at the local level to help bring those greenhouse gas emissions down.

"The overall provincial goal is 33 per cent reductions by 2020," said Fernandes.

"A small community can walk the walk.

"It may take a few months, it may take a few years, but we'd like to get there."

Fernandes outlined the hopes of the committee, which included an overall reduction of 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2010, another five per cent by 2012, 15 per cent by 2016, and 20 per cent by 2020.

The committee, in its report, then outlined how Rupert might be able to achieve those goals.

.

"We need to engage the community ... and I think we're doing a good job so far doing that," said Fernandes.

Transportation was another issue, because one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases is vehicle pollution.

"(We're looking at) idling reduction opportunities," said Fernandes. "And improving transit amenities ... which are already good, and explore opportunities for neighbourhood zero-emission vehicles.

"Vancouver has already put in ports (for hybrid vehicles), so that's something council could look at."

Existing building stock would need to be examined as well, with the potential for having businesses finding cleaner and more efficient methods of using energy, said Fernandes. She added that potential new buildings and new developments should also be "going green".

"Like a simple checklist attached to a building permit," she said.

Another aspect was infrastructure and municipal operations, which would start at the city level. That could include a local energy supply too, such as potential renewable heating sources.

"Use hybrid vehicles, and build all new buildings to high-energy efficiency standards," Fernandes said.

Implementation of the plan, therefore, is to establish a new committee and "identify a delivery agent, and explore funding opportunities," said Fernandes. "There are a lot of grants out there."
The majority of the councillors were in favour of the plan, although Coun. Kathy Bedard pointed out that council would have to keep consistent with the Official Community Plan (OCP) going forward.

Coun. Joy Thorkelson was in complete support of the committee, applauding them for their work during the past year in preparing the report.

"This is definitely a made-in-Prince Rupert plan," she said.

Michael Curnes, director of recreation and community services for the city, said that the next step was for council to endorse the plan.

"There will be a lot of people interested in this topic," he said.

City Administrator Gord Howie added that the plan would be worked into the 2009 budget, as well as the five-year city plan.

"If there is grant money out there, we should be chasing it," said Thorkelson.

Mayor Herb Pond suggested that council go all-out in trying to achieve the reduced emission status, pointing out that the way to do that is to go above and beyond other communities to become recognized as a "green community".

"That's how you get the most money," he said. "The economic opportunities from not just standards, but just blowing the doors off it can bring in money, jobs, tourism, and everything else."