<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">What can I say, but . . . Moscow cares</span><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Courtesy of today’s <i>Moscow-Pullman Daily News.</i><div><br></div><div>—————————————————</div><div><br></div><div><h1 itemprop="headline" class="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 42px; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Moscow adopts climate action plan</span></h1></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Many of those in attendance at Monday’s Moscow City Council meeting applauded as the council adopted the city’s Climate Action Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">The plan is a guiding document to help city government operations reach net zero emissions by 2035.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">The council and deputy city supervisor Tyler Palmer emphasized that this plan contains no mandatory programs for residents. It only applies to city government operations, though Mayor Art Bettge said he hopes that the community uses it as an example to minimize its effect on the climate. He said the city government produces only 2.4% of the total emissions in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">From 2010-18 the city set and achieved its goal of reducing its greenhouse gases by 20%. Palmer said the city worked on the current Climate Action Plan for the past 20 months and sought out public comment in response to the document.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Councilor Maureen Laflin said the city received both positive and negative feedback, which made it a “richer” document.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Palmer stressed that the goal of the climate action plan is to be fiscally responsible in addition to being environmentally responsible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">He said the city does not have enough money to be “flippant” with its dollars and the revised plan includes examples of how the city can save money through these practices. For example, it includes a sidebar showing how many dollars the city can save through purchasing hybrid police cars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Some in the public were concerned that the plan would lead to the city banning natural gas in new homes, but Palmer said this is not true. It encourages homes to use less natural gas, but there is no mandate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">The plan, which can be found at the city’s website at <a href="http://ci.moscow.id.us/1002/Climate-Action-Plan"><b><span style="color: rgb(6, 69, 173); text-decoration: none;">ci.moscow.id.us/1002/Climate-Action-Plan</span></b></a>, also advocates for participation in energy-efficient programs, developing a solar energy program, reducing vehicle trips, expanding recycling programs and educating citizens on planting native species, among other practices.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">According to the plan, city operation inventories will be completed every two years to track progress toward its goals. Moscow will also establish and maintain a website where the public can see its progress.</span></p></div><div>—————————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>