COURT HOUSE: (Tue. 5.15) Democratic freeholder candidates Steve Bacher and Bob Jackson challenged the Board of Chosen Freeholders to endorse the Kyoto Protocols for greenhouse gas reduction.
  "As of today, 496 mayors around the nation, representing over 64 million Americans, have endorsed the Kyoto Protocols and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement of 2005. These mayors pledge to meet or beat the goal of reducing their city's greenhouse gas emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. We can do that in Cape May County, too," said Jackson, "The incumbents should pass a resolution this month and get to work."
  "Communities all over the country are raising awareness of what individuals can do and providing leadership at every level of government," said Bacher.  "Cape May County should be taking the lead, not taking a back seat."
  International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) has outlined five steps that many cities have taken and our county should begin right now:  conduct a baseline emissions inventory, establish a target to lower emissions, develop and implement a local Climate Action Plan, and measure, verify and report on the County's performance in implementing the plan.
  "ICLEI points out the climate protection saves taxpayer dollars over the long term as oil prices go up while reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Jackson said.  "Implementing a Climate Action Plan builds the local economy and creates jobs, including high tech, high paying jobs around these new energy technologies.  Too many people have told me their college-educated kids have to leave the county to find decent jobs.  Taking the lead in clean energy will turn that around."
  "Clean energy improves air quality, which improves public health for seniors and children alike," said Bacher.  "Investing in solar, wind and other clean energy resources, as our neighbors in Atlantic County have done, will help ensure that our beautiful beaches are here for our grandchildren to enjoy."