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Climate Protection in Albuquerque

Mayor Chávez is Paving the Way for Climate Protection in Albuquerque and Beyond

I have joined 148 fellow mayors around the country in signing up Albuquerque on to the Kyoto Accord. If the federal government won’t do it, then fellow Mayors in America will do it."- Mayor Martin Chávez, 2005 State of the City Address

 

In June 2005, Mayor Chávez signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which commits City government to meet or exceed the goals defined in the Kyoto Protocol (read the full text of the protocol).

Here's how we're doing so far:

Climate Protection Agreement Commitments


 City of Albuquerque Actions
1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan
  • 2005 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory completed.
    • Report identified existing programs that attributed to GHG emissions reduction.
  • City has prepared plans that will reduce the GHG emissions from seven to forty percent below 1990 levels.
2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities
  • The City has worked to encourage walkability through community outreach, sidewalk improvement, and informational Walking Guides.
  • In 2002 the City worked in conjunction with Bernalillo County to develop the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, which includes the land-use policies, the creation of the Major Public Open Space Network (MPOS), and the identification of properties that should be preserved as open space.
  • Albuquerque has had an Open Space Division since 1984.
3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit
4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in "green tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology
  • City facilities already use 20% wind power. Learn more >>
  • Methane gas is being collected and used at both the Cerro Colorado landfill and the Los Angeles landfill. The collection efforts have resulted in a reduction in GHG emissions. Learn more >>
  • The City is planning to install solar heating and photovoltaic systems in five City swimming pools to heat the pools and power the pumps.
5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money
  • The City is converting all traffic signals to LED bulbs; to date all red lights and most green lights have been replaced.
  • Lighting retrofits at City Hall, parking structures, police substations, fire stations, and community centers have replaced old lights with more efficient lightbulbs, resulting in a 5 million kilowatt hour energy savings.
  • Several City facilities use waste oil rather than natural gas to heat buildings.
  • Energy audits continue on municipal facilities.
6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use
  • The City is exploring possibilities for mandating minimum equipment requirements, including Energy Star rating.
7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system
8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles, reduce the number of vehicles, launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages, convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel
  • Executive Instruction 19 guiding the way for newly-purchased City of Albuquerque fleet vehicles to be alternative fuel vehicles.
  • 45% of all City vehicles are alternative-fuel ready.
  • Biodiesel: Learn more >>
    • 1200 City vehicles including trash trucks, fire trucks, and street sweepers are capable of using biodiesel.
    • All primary City fueling facilities dispense B-20 biodiesel.
  • Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Learn more >>
    • The City owns over 100 CNG light vehicles including sedans and pick-up trucks. 
    • The City has four fueling stations that dispense CNG.
    • The Albuquerque International Sunport CNG station is the primary fuel source for rental car shuttles.
  • E85 Ethanol: Learn more >>
    • 364 City vehicles are capable of using E85 ethanol.
  • City Police, City Security, and Parking Division use electric-powered Segways.
9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems, recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production
  • The City uses a digester to turn wastewater into energy. Learn more >>
10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community
  • The City is working to expand recycling services to apartment dwellers.
11. Maintain healthy urban forests, promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2
  • Albuquerque is a Tree City USA. Learn more >>
  • The City has established an Urban Forestry program. Learn more >>
  • The City has begun an inventory of City-owned trees.
12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution
  • The City Energy Department coordinates with the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities program to educate school children.
  • The City hosted Sustainability demonstations at the 2006 New Mexico State Fair and PNM Solar Fiesta.
  • In October 2006, Albuquerque hosted the National Hydrogen Association's Renewable Hydrogen Forum.

Climate Protection Across New Mexico

Mayor Chavez is spreading the word about climate protection across New Mexico, and he's getting great results. At the annual meeting of the New Mexico Municipal League in August 2006, Mayor Chávez encouraged 103 other New Mexico Mayors to join Albuquerque in signing the Climate Protection Agreement. The group voted unanimously to support the agreement. That's a total of 104 New Mexico cities and town that now support climate protection and reduced greenhouse gas emissions!
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