Jul 9

Bloomberg proposes $2.3B plan for city to make eco-friendly upgrades

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BY ERIN EINHORN
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Tuesday, July 8th 2008, 6:27 AM

More cops and firefighters will drive hybrid cars, hundreds of rec centers, precinct stationhouses and offices will get heating and cooling upgrades, and city streets will glow with Earth-friendly bulbs, according to an ambitious plan unveiled Monday by Mayor Bloomberg.

Going green will cost a whopping $2.3 billion over the next nine years, but Bloomberg says the city will ultimately save money.

“This plan will … more than pay for itself,” Bloomberg said of an ambitious to-do list for weaning city government from its gas-guzzling, fuel-burning ways. “By 2015 we project that we will have saved more on our energy bills than we have spent on all of our planned investments to that point.”

With hundreds of buildings and thousands of cars and trucks on the road, city government accounts for 6.5% of all the power burned in the city. Taxpayers spend $1 billion a year on gas and electricity, Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg has been thinking big about the environment. Last year, he proposed his sweeping PlaNYC, which calls for reducing all New York’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. He wants city government to lead the way by reducing its own emissions by 30% by 2017.

He appointed a task force last fall to plot the city’s energy overhaul and signed an executive order authorizing the first $80 million toward the effort. The City Council responded by mandating that future mayors commit to the 2017 goal.

The task force returned yesterday with a report outlining which city vehicles can be replaced with hybrids and which city buildings need new windows, lighting, refrigeration, ventilation, heating or other energy-saving equipment.

In addition to the $80 million already dedicated to the plan, Bloomberg said the city should commit another $900 million over the next nine years. He’s seeking the rest of the $2.3 billion from private sources and state and federal governments.

Ashok Gupta of the Natural Resources Defense Council, who appeared with the mayor yesterday, said he doesn’t doubt the resulting cost savings.

Rather than take seven years, Gupta predicted the city would recoup its investment in five years.

“We did this 20 years ago in our offices,” he said. “The question is really what’s taken [the city] so long.”

eeinhorn@nydailynews.com

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Crossroads Jul 8, 2008 8:54:57 AM Report Offensive Graphite packing Post
It would have been better if Bloomberg had done this back in 2003, but instead he suspended recycling programs because they “weren’t profitable” that year. The price-tag doesn’t even come close to the amount of city money that has been diverted to Bloomberg’s other priorities since taking office. Such as the hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars in public money that has been funneled towards the private Atlantic Yards development, the private Yankee Stadium, the private Met’s Stadium, the ridiculous Highline. the Graphite packing private radio tower for MLB, $600 an hour criminal lawyers for Speaker Quinn, and the list just goes on and on- utterly disgraceful. Also, why does seem impossible for Mayor Bloomberg to ever discuss anything that isn’t 5, 10, even 20 years out? Obviously, no one will be able to hold him accountable or even remember. It would be a pleasure to hear Bloomberg discuss something that will take effect while he’s in office - something other than tax and fee hikes.

Mr.Chulo Jul 8, 2008 9:48:50 AM Report Offensive Post
And let the name calling ensue…Can’t wait to see how many different BLANKberg’s are created by the geniuses on this message board today…last weeks favorite of mine was “Sc umberg” hopefully it will be topped today.

milesbrown49 Jul 8, 2008 12:18:23 PM Report Offensive Post
I wrote this blog a few minutes ago and they erased it. It must Graphite packing be true: “Oh, s h it. One of Bloombergs friends must own a company to service this, or is about to buy one”!!! Billions Huh??????

Ernestoman Jul 8, 2008 5:00:16 PM Report Offensive Post
Now, to lessen our carbon footprint, the city needs to stop buying massive amounts of bottled water and drink NYC water. $ave money too.

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