SUBJECT: Governor Douglas Presents Vermont’s First Comprehensive Environmental & Resource Management Plan -- Plan Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 25% & Saves Taxpayer Money

Montpelier, Vt.--Governor Jim Douglas today made good on a promise to develop a comprehensive plan to transform state government into a leader in environmental stewardship by releasing the state’s first comprehensive environmental impact and resource management plan.

“In just 14 months, we have developed this plan to reduce the environmental impact of state government, save taxpayer dollars through energy savings, create market demand for environmentally preferable products—especially Vermont products—and demonstrate that a commitment to fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship go hand and hand,” Douglas said.

Douglas’ ambitious strategy will allow state government to reduce government’s contribution of greenhouse gasses by 25 percent by 2012.

“This is the most comprehensive review of state government’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas contributions ever conducted,” the Governor said. “Moreover, it is the most complete plan ever developed to reduce our government’s contribution of green house gases.”

To achieve the four core objectives he outlined, Douglas identified the aggressive management of state facilities infrastructures, state purchasing policy, and transportation management as the target areas of greatest influence.

“Each of these three target areas will be influenced by our comprehensive legislative strategy, much of which is already underway; a comprehensive energy consumption and green house gas reduction policy, as outlined in this plan; and updated executive orders,” Douglas said.

Douglas said that action is necessary because the continued release of greenhouse gases threatens to raise the temperature of the earth, impact public health, and disrupt the seasonal climates our agricultural systems depend on.

Referring to a chart depicting the Earth’s natural carbon cycle, Douglas said the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has already increased dramatically since the start of the industrial revolution sometime around the middle of the 19th century and will continue to increase unless we choose to change our ways.

“We need to be conscious of the cycle and it’s ability to assimilate our carbon emissions,” Douglas said. “If the global totals for photosynthesis and respiration are not equal, carbon either accumulates on land or is released to the atmosphere.” For more information on the Governor’s plan visit www.vermont.gov/governor.

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