Denver Plan Addresses Global Warming

City Hopes for Dramatic Reduction in Gas Emissions

Denver, hoping to be a national leader in reducing the emissions that many have called responsible for global warming, is initiating a comprehensive plan that will cover not only gas emissions, but also promote alternative energy, recycling, and energy conservation.

According to the Rocky Mountain News, the goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in an amount equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road.

While some parts of the plan may be popular, the News says there are parts that may be controversial: fines on heavy users of energy, and automobile insurance premiums based on miles traveled. The plan, which will be at the center of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's campaign for a second term, is the result of several months of meetings between business and community groups and city planners. One driving force behind the "climate action plan," was the fear that increased global warming could put Colorado at risk of more droughts and forest fires.

Elements of the plan, according to the News, include energy efficiency standards for new home and older homes; incentives for carpools and for the use of fuel efficient hybrid cars; encouraging recycling and charging residents for the trash they throw away; as well as the fines on heavy users of energy and insurance premiums tied to miles traveled.

Other Colorado cities have already worked to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, the source of methane gas which is seen as contributing to global warming. Fort Collins, for example, estimates that its plan-charging for trash disposed of rather than recycled-has led to 30% of the trash being recycled compared to the time prior to the new plan. The city's ultimate goal is to see 50% of the trash being recycled.

There have been some dramatic results, according to Susie Gordon, an environmental planner for Fort Collins. As she told the News, "The most remarkable difference is that you used to see people with 15 bags of lawn clippings on the street; you don't see that anymore."