Jun 22, 2008 10:52 pm US/Eastern
Clinton: Going Green Could Boost The Economy
Clinton Urged Mayors To Use Loan Programs To Go Green
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
Former president Bill Clinton addresses the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Miami.
CBS
Making a commitment to energy efficiency could boost the U.S. economy.
That message was delivered by former president Bill Clinton to those in attendance at the 76th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami.
"I do not believe we can bring the economy back with $135 a barrel oil and $160 coal unless we all have a serious commitment to maximum energy efficiency, to maximum production of clean energy, to maximum commitments to building efficiencies, I just don' t think we can do it," Clinton told the gathering. "I think if we do it right it will be the major engine of growth and new jobs in America for at least a decade and therefore I think we all have something to do here."
Clinton urged city leaders to take advantage of a variety of loan programs to retrofit buildings in their communities. By doing so, greenhouse gas emissions would be cut without cutting into today's hard hit municipal budgets. To illustrate his point he cited a recent success his foundation had.
"We replaced lights with compact fluorescent lights in the Queens Bridge houses, which is the largest public housing section, and the labor was donated. They are now going to, listen to this, just that 10-thousand light bulbs will save them $365-thousand a year," said Clinton. "Just that, this is a no brainer:"
Clinton went on to point out that the City of Los Angeles was looking to replace more than 150 thousand street lights with LED or induction street lights while Houston was switching out its traffic lights and starting to replace street lamps at more than 24-hundred intersections.
The former president also predicted that the country would see improved federal policies for emission reductions and energy efficiency standards next year.
Clinton admitted while he favors presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama's stance on emissions cuts, he noted that Republican John McCain's position is more progressive than Republicans in the past.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Police: Youth Minister Molested Teen
Click to enlarge
Kennedy: I'm Barred From Communion Due To Abortion 36 mins ago
I-Team: Tracking The Florida Stimulus Money Trail 
Stumble It!
