As temperatures rise because of global warming and federal policies don’t change fast enough, many cities across the country (and world) are taking the initiative and implementing changes to drastically decrease their emissions into the atmosphere.
One example is Boulder, Colorado, which privatized energy utilities in order to quickly and efficiently convert to clean energy. Other cities have pledged to divest from the fossil fuel industry, thanks in part to the campaign led by Bill McKibben and 350.org.
Portland is in the position to be a climate action leader, if we have the courage and foresight to choose this path. The current boom in housing development is good for Portland – but we should mandate that every new building be net-zero on energy consumption. Do we want the future Portland to consist of inefficient, energy-leaking buildings? Or do we want it to be a city that has greatly reduced its reliance on fossil fuels?
Buildings are one of the biggest culprits of carbon emissions, and Maine’s housing stock is among the oldest in the country. We also have the highest dependence on No. 2 heating oil. Why not begin to balance that out with a responsible new building code?
Anastasia Antonacos
Portland
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