Mayor Kitty Piercy will participate in the Sundance Summit, a Mayors' Gathering on Climate Protection, being held July 10-12 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The purpose of the summit is to discuss the causes and solutions of global warming, and identify tools and actions for meeting emission reduction targets. Invitations to the event were limited by the conference organizers to 45 U.S. mayors who represent cities that would “facilitate the greatest impact on global warming, provide broad geographic representation, and bring new voices to the table.”

“I am hopeful this summit will provide new information, tools and resources to support the City's current efforts to reduce energy consumption, fuel use and air pollution,” said Mayor Piercy. “I'm always interested in finding ways to save money and resources while saving the environment.”

The City of Eugene is actively involved in a number of initiatives aimed at reducing climate change impacts, including:

· Capture of methane gas released from the wastewater treatment plant and its conversion into electricity, reducing climate impacts of the methane by about 95%

· Replacement of City passenger vehicles with hybrid vehicles

· Use of 20% biodiesel in all diesel equipment

· Incorporation of high energy efficiency standards into all renovations and remodels of city buildings, as well as new construction

· Implementation of programs to encourage use of alternate modes and recycling

The summit may also provide useful information and networks for the newly formed Sustainable Economic Development Task Force. That group is currently looking at the opportunities associated with energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building, organic and natural foods, transportation, health care, and bioproducts, all of which contribute to local and global environmental conditions.

The conference is hosted by actor/activist Robert Redford, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). All participating mayors' expenses are covered by the conference organizers. Funding for the conference is provided by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Wallace Global Fund.

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