Press Release - Wednesday, January 24, 2007
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Lt. Gov. Quinn salutes Sen. Garrett for filing the Green Governments Illinois Act!
CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and State Senator Susan Garrett (D - Lake Forest) joined with leaders from local governments, state agencies and educational institutions today to announce the filing of the Green Governments Illinois Act - legislation which will reduce global warming and ensure greater energy security in Illinois.
"The Green Governments Illinois Act signals an all-out effort in our state to meet the great challenges of our time head-on," Quinn said. "In Illinois we will continue to develop green policies which reduce global warming and reduce our dependence on foreign oil."
Highlights of the Green Governments Illinois Act include:
- Strengthening the Green Government Coordinating Council to carry out the goals of the statute
- Resources to assist local governments and educational institutions in voluntarily adopting green practices
- Guidelines to ensure that state agencies adopt cost-effective green purchasing and building practices
- Reporting procedures to monitor and share positive results
- Awards to recognize government units that adopt innovative or exemplary sustainability plans
"Illinois will be providing opportunities and recognition for all levels of government and schools to be stewards of our environment," Garrett said. "For the first time, these efforts will be coordinated and shared under one umbrella - the Green Government Coordinating Council - to allow for full participation from every area of Illinois."
Lt. Governor Quinn is chairman of the Green Government Coordinating Council, which is charged with developing green polices that reduce pollution, incorporate conservation, and promote green policies into government operations. Since its inception nearly two years ago, the council has successfully increased the use of E-85 fuel in the state fleet of cars and advocated for the purchase of renewable energy in state buildings.
Now the state boasts a "Green Fleet" of more than 1,600 cars capable of running on E-85, and most buildings are now cleaned using green cleaning products. The state recently negotiated a contract to purchase renewable energy in state buildings, which should annually reduce 649,237,680 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions - the environmental equivalent of planting nearly 50 million trees.
"We salute Senator Garrett for expanding the reach of our efforts and reinforcing Illinois' place as a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability," Quinn said. "The Green Governments Illinois Act will help us create more green polices that reduce pollution, power buildings and conserve water - all while creating more jobs in Illinois."
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