Legislative Correspondence_Energy Efficiency Conservation Block GrantOffice of the Mayor
City Hall
50 YVest 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
www.cityofdubuque.org
May 13, 2009
VIA Email and
1St Class Mail
Senator Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Dear Senator Harkin,
THE CITY OF ~~
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As you may know, the City of Dubuque will be a recipient of the Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) recently funded through the American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act. We want to thank you for your support of this
necessary funding which is crucial for Dubuque as we strive to implement
initiatives in Dubuque to support our sustainability model, which includes a
balanced approach to economic prosperity, environmental integrity and
sociallcultura) vibrancy.
Recently I lent my support to the U.S. Conference of Mayors request to the
Senate and House Leadership to consider full funding levels for the EECBG
program in the FY 2010 Appropriations bill. Attached is the letter fram the U.S.
Canference of Mayors that was sent. This funding will allow those closest to the
issues surrounding energy, municipalities, to provide solutions that will create the
strongest impact globally.
I urge you to support eff®rts to fully fund the EECBG program.
Thani< you for your support of our work locally and your continued leadership at
the Federal level.
Service People Integrity Responsibility hmnvation Teamwork
Sincerely,
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Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Cc Dubuque City Council
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodman, Assistant City Manager
Sheila Samuelson, Sustainable Community Coordinator
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The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Senate Minority Leader
The Honorable John A. Boehner
House Minority Leader
Dear Senate and House Leadership:
We, the nation's mayors, want to thank you for including the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant (EECBG) in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and we strongly encourage you to
support full funding levels for the EECBG program in the FY 2010 Appropriations bill.
Through this initial funding of EECBG, cities, counties and states have begun to create strategic plans
and implement projects that will promote energy conservation, invest in renewable energy technology,
and create alternative transportation systems - -all of which will generate thousands of green jobs within
our communities. Specifically, we are planning to invest our EECBG funds to retrofit new and existing
municipal, residential, and commercial buildings; install solar panels, LEDs, and photovoltaic systems;
convert municipal fleets; and implement alternative transportation initiatives to name a few.
By including funding commitments in the FY 2010 Appropriations bill for the EECBG program, you
will enable cities to continue our efforts to sustain and accelerate these types of community-based,
energy conservation initiatives that have both local and national benefits.
More than 940 mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,
pledging actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent below 19901evels, a goal that
mirrors the Kyoto Protocol. To meet this goal, we need to continue our federal partnership to assist us
with our efforts to expedite our national response to meeting our goals of energy independence and
climate protection.
Manuel A. (Manny) Diaz
Mayor of Miami
President, The U.S. Conference of Mayors
cc: Members of the Senate
Members of the House