Climate change may be a global issue, but there are local
steps that can be taken to address it, several South
Carolina mayors said Wednesday.
Spartanburg Mayor
Bill Barnet and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley joined other South
Carolina mayors and U.S. Sen. Lindsey
Graham, R-S.C., in announcing their support of efforts
to create alternative energy solutions and positive environmental
change.
Riley said the bipartisan coalition is dedicated to sharing
ideas that work with each other and will support legislation,
on a state and local level, that promotes a cleaner environment.
The group gathered Wednesday during the winter meeting of
the Municipal Association of South
Carolina in Columbia.
Graham, speaking to the group via conference call from Washington,
said he wants South
Carolina to lead the nation in finding an alternate source
of energy to coal-fired plants, which produce 70 percent
of the state's power.
South
Carolina, Graham said, could become a model site for
nuclear waste recycling, the biggest impediment to nuclear
power.
Spartanburg and Union were
two of the South
Carolina cities touted for their efforts in affecting
local climate change.
Through its efforts to make the community more pedestrian
and bicycle-friendly, Spartanburg is
committed to building cities that are accessible to people,
not just cars, Barnet said.
Spartanburg is
promoting architectural changes to new developments, encouraging
the construction of buildings close to the roadway to encourage
bicycle and pedestrian traffic and the use of
environment-friendly materials.
"We're not in a position to place a large number of restrictions
on those who show interest in building in our city, but we
can encourage alternatives that can lead ourselves to simulate
the behaviors we seek," Barnet said, adding that local business
leaders have shown an interest in constructing more environment-friendly
buildings.
Barnet said the city's intention to become a Bicycle Friendly
Community through the League of American Bicyclists is another
way the community is becoming more conducive to alternate
modes of travel.
Union is
an example of a small town that is committed to using alternate
forms of fuel. Union announced
its intention last year to use bio-diesel fuels, derived
from biological sources such as soybeans or vegetable oil,
in their municipal fleets. The motor fuel they're using is
a blend of 85 percent ethanol, produced from renewable resources,
and 15 percent gasoline.
