11/01/07 The Emerald City is Green

How green is the great Northwest. Seattle is gloating over the fact it is it is first major city in the US to cut enough greenhouse emissions to satisfy standards of the Kyoto global warming treaty. While it is difficult to calculate precisely, the fact that Seattle owns it's own utility, Seattle City Light and second runner up Portland must obtain power from two privately owned utility companies means the Emerald City has direct control over conservation measures within the utility thus major emissions were cut when the city opted to sell off Seattle City Lights s coal and natural gas plants. The Mayor of Seattle, Greg Nickels who lobbied aggressively for other mayors to sign the Kyoto Protocol pledge is tickled pink by the fact that Seattle has cut greenhouse gases 8 percent from 1990-2005. Second runner up Portland lacks control over its utilities but has outpaced Seattle in reducing auto emissions as Portlanders are more willing to forgo their autos for public transit than their Seattle counterparts. Getting the Seattle commuters to give up their cars is next on mayor Nickels green agenda. Good Luck!