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Denver mayor launches citywide environmental program
The Associated Press
July 12, 2006
DENVER - Mayor John Hickenlooper unveiled a plan Wednesday to make the city more environmentally friendly by slashing water consumption, burning less fuel and planting more trees.
Hickenlooper's "Greenprint Denver" plan, outlined during his State of the City address, calls for cutting water consumption by 22 percent over the next decade.
"In a climate like ours, water conservation has to be a key part of sustainable development," Hickenlooper said.
He said the city will work with schools, the Denver Zoo and sports stadiums to cut water use.
The plan also calls for making all new and renovated city buildings meet energy conservation guidelines, replacing the city's light-duty vehicles with hybrids and planting 1 million new trees.
Hickenlooper said Denver will work for more employment in renewable energy, which he called "green-collar jobs."
"Its no longer just about white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs. Were talking about green-collar jobs," he said.
City offices are nonpartisan, but Hickenlooper, a Democrat, toyed with the idea of running for governor this year before deciding not to. On Wednesday, he praised Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican who is leaving office early next year because of term limits.
He credited Owens' leadership in persuading voters last year to allow the state to keep billions of dollars to restore programs that were eliminated or cut back during an economic turndown.
"I also want to thank him for his friendship and for always speaking his mind and giving me good advice," Hickenlooper said.
Article URL: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20060712/NEWS/107120044
