City of Phoenix: Environmental Programs and Sustainability Initiatives

Phil McNeely, Environmental Programs Manager, City of Phoenix

The City of Phoenix, in partnership with the ASU’s Sustainability Solutions Services, recently conducted an inventory of Greenhouse Gas (”GHG”) emissions attributable to city operations to determine the success of previous reduction efforts.  Mr. McNeely will present the results of that study and discuss programs that Phoenix has pursued to reduce GHG emissions and other air pollutants as well as save on city energy and transportation costs.  Additionally, he will be providing a sneak peek into the changes we can expect to see from the City of Phoenix as they continue their efforts to address all the environmental issues impacting the city, its residents and its businesses.

 

Survival of the Fittest: A Legislative Update Regarding the Fate of Environmental & Regulatory Bills

Jeff Gray, R&R Partners (AMC’s Legislative Liaison)

As February came to a close, so too did the death of some environmental and regulatory bills that were introduced at the beginning of the year.  Whether a bill’s demise is due to not having received a hearing or was ill-fated as a result of being heard in committee, this first cut in which the weak bills are weeded out of cycle is decided by the members of the chamber in which the bill originates.  However, the expiration of a bill does not always equate to the death of its language or concept, as anything can be revived in a forma of an amendment of some sort onto another bill.  Mr. Gray will provide an update as to which environmental and regulatory legislation actually made it through the process thus far and which legislative concepts are being rumored for resurrection, if any.