Cities' initiatives are fueling change
Cities' initiatives are fueling change

By Michael Kimball, June Torbati and Dacia Dodson

Published: October 5, 2007

With momentum for the worldwide environmental movement building, Oklahoma's three largest cities are hoping to lead the green-friendly charge in here.

The governments in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman are trying to cut down on energy use from within and trying to extend environmentally conscious opportunities to their residents, the cities' mayors said.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett started a task force in conjunction with the city council to find out what the city is doing to help the environment. The task force will also study what other cities are doing that Oklahoma City could do, too.

"We came away enthused and really surprised at the amount we were already doing and the council was not aware of it,” he said. "The city staff wasn't trailing on this issue, they were leading the effort.”

Oklahoma City's General Services Department has been integrating natural gas-powered vehicles into the city's fleet for five years. There are 62 such vehicles in the city's fleet right now, according to a news release issued by the city. That's only a small fraction of the 3,000 vehicles in the city's fleet, but city officials plan to buy more.

The department also is buying biodiesel fuel, which can be used in all of the city's diesel-powered vehicles. The department also emphasizes buying diesel-powered light vehicles to maximize the number of vehicles in the fleet that can use alternative fuels.

Oklahoma City is also one of the few cities in the state to offer curbside recycling to its residents. About 170,000 customers in the city can use bins at their homes picked up by Waste Management trucks. City officials estimate more than one fifth of the 170,000 customers set out a bin at least once a month.

Cornett did not, however, sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He told The Oklahoman in May he thought the agreement was more politics than action.

Cornett said the city's biggest environmental challenge is to reduce residents' dependency on automobiles, a goal he thinks the city can accomplish by limiting urban sprawl, increasing population density and decreasing the need for automobiles as a means for a daily commute.

Making downtown Oklahoma City an area that people want to live and work in can benefit the city's economy as much as the environment, said Jennifer Gooden, co-founder of Sustainable OKC.

"When you can live, work and shop in an area that you can navigate by foot or bicycle, and when you complement that with public transportation, you get a system that is vibrant, economically powerful and good for quality of life,” Gooden said.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor introduced an energy plan in May that details the city's expected energy expenditures and ways to limit usage.

Like Oklahoma City, Tulsa is incorporating natural gas-powered vehicles and biodiesel in its fleet. The plan also urges city employees to carpool, recycle and use public transportation when possible.

"Everyone can always use a reminder that it is up to each one of us to care about the environment,” Taylor said. "One person, plus one person plus one person eventually becomes a multitude.”

In May, she was the 500th mayor in the U.S. to sign the Climate Protection Agreement, which aims to reduce each city's emissions to 7 percent below the 1990 level by 2012.

Taylor also said Tulsa emphasizes beautification for recreation and aesthetic purposes she hopes focuses residents' attitudes on the general idea of environmental care. One of the most visible changes in the works is a change of scenery for Tulsa City Hall. The city bought One Technology Center to keep many of the departmental offices under one roof in a more energy efficient building. She said the move could lead to a 20 percent reduction in energy costs.

Norman residents are largely responsible for environmentally friendly initiatives in the community, Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said.

In May, Norman voters approved a $3 addition to their monthly water bills to enable the city to begin a curbside recycling program. Beginning in January, Norman residents can use bins to place plastic, glass, aluminum and some types of cardboard for pick-up on the same day city trucks come by to pick up trash.

Also, one of the principal agents of input for Norman's environmental policy is a resident-led group. The Environmental Control Advisory Board submitted a report to city officials earlier this year, outlining 12 recommendations to reduce the city's environmental impact and reduce energy consumption.

Rosenthal said two study sessions have been conducted on the board's recommendation, focusing on use of low-wattage bulbs, recycling and vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

"We are going to be working with our new city manager to identify a lead staff person who will work with all of our departments to help us take action and make progress on these recommendations,” Rosenthal said. "It will inevitably also involve some of our planning processes to look at ways to reduce the impact of new development in our community on the environment.”

The city also signed the Climate Protection Agreement in 2005.

Rosenthal said she's also working to change Normanites' transportation habits with an emphasis on bicycle trails and public transportation. But she said more work needs to be done.

"Some of the harder (initiatives) are retro-fitting city facilities,” she said.

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