Sandpoint was fortunate to have Mayor Ray Miller sign and get a head start on the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.

Our new Mayor Gretchen Hellar plans to continue full steam in this direction. She asked City Council to set up a formal Climate Advisory Committee to the city, but they denied her request. Not to let that stop her, she now plans to establish an informal committee.

The city did allocate money in October to join ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability).  http://www.climatecan.org/component/option,com_weblinks/catid,24/Itemid,23/

ICLEI will provide the software to conduct the city and community baseline study of greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative to get baseline data of GHG before developing a Climate Action Plan. As one of its first issues, the Climate Committee will decide the best way to accomplish this study, whether through student interns, community volunteers, etc.

Here's what Ray Miller said he did for climate change while mayor. (All of these are after ClimateCAN asked him to sign the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement):

    * One of six Idaho Mayors to sign the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement
    * Only city in Idaho to host the nationwide Discussion on Climate Change, Oct. 4, 2007
    * Instituted City Hall recycling
    * Retrofitted lighting in City Hall and Community Hall for 50% reduction in energy
    * Converting the Wastewater Digesters from natural gas to methane, app. $90,000 p/yr savings
    * Working with Northern Lights to install power generator in the Sand Creek Water Treatment Plant.      We will become self-sufficient and sell power back to power company.
    * Exploring installing generator in the Wastewater Plant's effluent outflow.
    * Will be increasing insulation in City Hall to reduce heating consumption 2008.
    * Experimenting with energy recovery at the Wastewater Pre-treatment plant (now called Energy     Recovery Center).