New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Last week New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang attended the 2011 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards during the U.S. Conference of Mayors 79th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. New Bedford was recognized during the national award ceremony for its leadership in climate protection efforts.
The 2011 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards are sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Walmart. The annual awards program recognizes mayors for innovative practices in their cities that increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An independent panel of judges selected the winners from a pool of 130 applicants. New Bedford received an honorable mention in the small cities category for its Community Retrofit Program.
“We are pleased to receive national recognition for our Community Retrofit Program, which is an initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and employing local residents,” said Mayor Scott W. Lang.
“Throughout the nation and the world, it is the innovation and commitment of U.S. mayors, like the winners being announced today, who are leading the nation toward greater energy independence and lower carbon emissions,” said Conference President Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz.
“We are proud to honor these cities and their mayors, who remind all of us how their leadership is making a real difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of life in their communities,” said Maggie Sans, Walmart’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations. “At the end of the day, these local efforts reduce our energy dependence and save money, results that strengthen the U.S. economy.”
About New Bedford’s Community Retrofit Program
Mayor Scott Lang proposed the Community Retrofit Program (CRP) in 2009 with a goal of increasing the energy efficiency of 5,000 units of housing and businesses in the City of New Bedford over five years. The initiative was intended to create local career paths, lower energy costs; and reduce carbon emissions. The CRP established partnerships, including with CBOs, local contractors, and a utility company. Through community organizing and creative marketing, the CRP utilizes the strength of community relationships to drive demand for energy efficiency. All work opportunities generated are completed by local contractors who meet equity and quality standards. Accomplishing this ambitious goal requires a whole-systems approach that benefits the economy and the environment while building a strong community.
More information is available online here.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,210 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Find more about the U.S. Conference of Mayors at their website , on Facebook, and on Twitter.
