Mallahan: "Make Seattle greener"

Chris Grygiel (Strange Bedfellows):

Joe Mallahan, running against former Sierra Club leader Mike McGinn for Seattle mayor, on Monday released his environmental goals.

"I am committed to continue leading Seattle forward so we can be the premier city for environmental protection and innovation in North America. That means enacting creative, outcome-based strategies to protect Puget Sound, to create an open and accessible waterfront, to achieve and exceed the Kyoto climate goals, to improve transit options, to enlarge Seattle's forest canopy, and to generate family-wage, green-energy jobs," Mallahan said in a statement.

Among Mallahan's ideas: Retrofitting 10,000 homes in the city to make them more energy efficient and restoring tree canopy to 30 percent of city land area by 2037.

To read Mallahan's entire plan, continue reading.

I am committed to continue leading Seattle forward so we can be the premier city for environmental protection and innovation in North America. That means enacting creative, outcome-based strategies to protect Puget Sound, to create an open and accessible waterfront, to achieve and exceed the Kyoto climate goals, to improve transit options, to enlarge Seattle's forest canopy, and to generate family-wage, green-energy jobs.

Seattle is known throughout the country as a city that leads on environmental issues. As mayor, I will build on that legacy so we can do even better. We should strive to do better as a city to be responsible stewards of the environment, not just because it is our responsibility, but because it also helps us become leaders in growing jobs and our economy. Many of these issues are interdependent: Seattle can't be a climate leader without improved transit. Seattle can't ensure a healthy Puget Sound without managing storm-water diversion, street sweeping and bringing to scale natural drainage solutions. And Seattle can't make whole our vision for a healthy environment without a leader with a proven track record of working across multiple sectors and getting things done. Together, we can keep Seattle moving forward toward a better, greener environment and economy.

The issue of how we move forward to protect our environment is a values issue. I grew up in Everett and spent my youth exploring the beaches and tide pools of Puget Sound. Many of our cultural and spiritual values flow from our natural and wild places. I also believe that the environment is a social justice issue as well as a public health issue. We have a moral obligation to future generations to plan ten, fifty, and one hundred years ahead.

I have the benefit of having guidance from both grassroots and elected environmental leaders including Rep. Dave Upthegrove, Ross Macfarlane, Tom Byers and Maureen Judge. I look forward to working with many others to develop a united vision to keep Seattle moving forward for a Green Seattle and a vibrant, healthy Puget Sound.


Here's the beginning of my Environmental Agenda for a Green Seattle:

Protecting Puget Sound

Puget Sound is our region's greatest natural gem. However, despite what most citizens assume based on its surface appearance, the Sound is in serious trouble. The city must adopt an outcome-based strategy that limits sewer overflow and the discharge of heavy metals from vehicles. We need to bring Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) street-sweeping pilot project to scale to reduce non-point source pollution. We also must work in concert with SPU to reduce impervious runoff through the use of green roofs and natural-drainage swales. Over the long-term, Seattle must enhance its infrastructure to manage the city's maxed-out sewer-overflow basins.


Building Efficiency

Retrofitting 10,000 Seattle homes could save enough energy to power 20,000 electric vehicles saving citizens $26 million in fuel costs, while reducing carbon emissions by 100,000 metric tons and creating 700 jobs. Common sense efficiencies and conservation are critical. In addition, we should consider requiring all new homes placed on the market have a home-energy audit.

Urban Forests

I am committed to Seattle's Urban Forest management goal of restoring our tree canopy to 30 percent of city land area by 2037. I will look seriously at the incentives and regulations under consideration by the Council's recently established Urban Forestry Commission to ensure that our city meets this goal.


Electric Vehicles

I am a supporter of the city's electric vehicle "Plug-In Ready" project that falls under Seattle's Climate Protection Initiative. Seattle will be an electric-vehicle leader by helping install electric charging stations, permit streamlining, and city-fleet purchases.


Working with Businesses to Be National Leaders

Seattle has a real opportunity to become a global leader in green-building standards. We can be a model for urban centers looking to invest and build in green buildings and similar technologies. In addition, providing incentives offered for businesses or private owners who undertake ambitious green building projects can help us achieve a 25 percent efficiency increase goal by 2020. Increasing density, while maintaining the unique character of Seattle's neighborhoods, is essential for smart growth and development.

Just as the old "politics of no" won't help us build a clean energy economy, I understand that we need to find ways to streamline and encourage appropriate development and cutting-edge green building practices. Too often, green builders facing endless delays and process hoops as they try to incorporate innovative features that reduce energy use and increase sustainability, but don't meet "code" or fit within bureaucrats' ideas of what is always done. I pledge to streamline these requirements and allow builders to focus on meeting high performance standards, not antiquated rules.

The City of Seattle doesn't just make policy and provide services; it is a major employer and can profoundly affect the region's ability to address climate change. The transportation, housing, economic development, and parks initiatives in which Seattle is involved should reflect our desire to dramatically reduce our impact on the environment. As mayor, I will be a strong advocate on global warming, but will ensure that as an employer, purchaser, tenant, and builder we are doing everything we can to reduce our carbon impact.

I will advocate for more bus service, continue green recycling practices, and find innovative ways to reduce our most significant sources of pollution and waste.

Citizens of Seattle share a common vision of a sustainable future with growing companies that help lead the world to a cleaner future. What we need now is the management experience and the ability to create strong partnerships to make that vision a reality.