Entire Story:
USCM Hosts National Summit on Energy and the Environment in Chicago, May 10-11 WASHINGTON, May 10 (U.S. Newswire) -- With record-level gas prices and rising fuel costs in America, The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), led by Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, hosted an urgent National Summit on Energy and the Environment on May 10 to 11 in Chicago to sound a national alarm on the country's energy/environmental challenges and to stress the importance of energy/environmental conservation. Approximately 35 mayors joined with industry experts and the private sector to discuss a broad range of topics including air quality, climate change, alternative energy sources, alternative vehicles, public transit and green housing and buildings.  "Mayors are very concerned about the recent spike in fuel and energy costs and the financial burden it places on American citizens and their families. We know that aggressive action is necessary to turn this tide, and we are taking the lead in addressing the nation's energy challenges to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We can not wait on the federal government; we must do what mayors do best and act now," said Conference President Beverly O'Neill.  The nation's mayors have heard President Bush's declaration that America is "addicted to oil," and the Conference is on the forefront of the national effort to find comprehensive, long-term solutions to move the country from this energy crisis toward energy independence.  Already, mayors have implemented innovative programs in their cities that provide short-term solutions to energy dependence, and released a best practice guide that outlines these programs at the Summit. Numerous cities like Chicago, Ill., Austin, Texas, Los Angeles, Calif. and Charlotte, N.C., contributed to the guide that illustrates specifically how mayors are dealing with this crisis on a local level.  Mayor Daley underscored the importance of the best practice guide saying, "There are things that mayors can do to help our constituents deal with the energy crisis. And that's why we're having this conference - to share ideas on how we can conserve energy and encourage the development of new forms of energy."  During the Summit, the mayors also pledged to develop an Energy/Environment Conservation Action Agenda to be issued at the Conference's Annual Meeting in June in Las Vegas, Nev. Among the items to be included in the Action Agenda, the mayors are calling for the following six initial steps to help alleviate energy problems:  1) Invest more money in transportation options including public and mass transit, bike paths, etc.  2) Encourage at the local, state, and federal level the building or rehabilitation of more energy efficient buildings in both the public and private sector.  3) Encourage automakers to make more energy efficient cars as well as encouraging individuals to buy vehicles that are more energy efficient including alternative fuels, hybrids, and plug- in hybrids.  4) Encourage more investment in renewable and alternative energy through additional incentives.  5) Encourage more mixed-use development to allow people to have more walkable communities.  6) Encourage the public and private sector, as well as citizens, to do their part in conserving energy.  The following mayors participated in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Summit on Energy and the Environment:  Long Beach, Calif. Mayor Beverly O'Neill, USCM president Dearborn, Mich. Mayor Michael A. Guido, USCM Vice president Austin, Texas Mayor Will Wynn, USCM Energy Committee chair Charlotte, N.C. Mayor Patrick McCrory, USCM Environment Committee chair Chicago, Ill. Richard M. Daley, host Salt Lake City, Utah Mayor Ross "Rocky" Anderson Racine, Wis. Mayor Gary Becker Highland Park, Ill. Mayor Michael Belsky Santa Barbara, CA Mayor Marty Blum Carmel, Ind. Mayor James Brainard East Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Eric Brewer North Miami, Fla. Mayor Kevin Burns Albuquerque, N.M. Mayor Martin Chavez Arlington, Texas Robert Cluck New Berlin, Wis. Jack Chiovatero Carbondale, Ill. Mayor Brad Cole Fayetteville, Ark. Mayor Dan Coody Hayward, Calif. Mayor Roberta Cooper Des Moines, Iowa Mayor T.M. Franklin Cownie Manitowoc, Wis. Mayor Kevin Crawford Louisville Metro, Ky. Mayor Rudy Davidson Mount Vernon, N.Y. Mayor Ernest Davis Palm Desert, Calif. Mayor Jim Ferguson Carol Stream, Ill. Mayor Ross Ferraro Portsmouth, Va. Mayor James Holley III Pleasanton, Calif. Mayor Jennifer Hosterman Rio Rancho, N.M. Kevin Jackson Normal, Ill. Mayor Chris Koos La Mesa, Calif. Mayor Art Madrid Northbrook, Ill. Mayor Eugene Marks Palatine, Ill. Mayor Rita Mullins Akron, Ohio Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic Vancouver, Wash. Royce E. Pollard Mansfield, Ohio Lydia J. Reid Fort Wayne, Ind. Mayor Graham Richard Green Bay, Wis. Mayor Jim Schmitt  ---  The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.