U.S. Cities Show Global Leadership at Swedish Green Conference
11 U.S. mayors shared their urban sustainability practices with peers at the European Green Capital Conference on October 20-22 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The U.S. Embassy in Sweden organized the delegation's visit as part of the Swedish American Green Alliance (SAGA), a bilateral initiative to promote clean technologies such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. Stockholm, named the Green Capital of Europe 2010 by the European Commission, hosted the flagship event where European mayors shared best practices on sustainability and discussed ways to overcome energy challenges.
Stockholm officials invited the presidents of the National League of Cities, Mayor Ron Loveridge of Riverside, California, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor Elizabeth Kautz of Burnsville, Minnesota. The contingent also includes representatives from Portland, Oregon; Boulder, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Lawrence, New Jersey; Bayfield, Wisconsin; Tallahassee, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The participation of the U.S. delegation was organized in cooperation with the National League of Cities and the Institute for Eco-Municipalities Education and Assistance. See the SAGA page on the Web site of the American Embassy in Stockholm.
EPA Grants E15 Fuel Waiver for Newer Vehicles
The U.S. EPA waived a limitation on selling fuel that has over 10% ethanol, allowing up to 15% ethanol for model year 2007 onward. This is the first of a series of actions necessary from federal, state, and industry to allow commercialization of so-called E15 gasoline blends.
The EPA made the decision after a review of DOE's testing on E15's impact on engine durability and emissions. A ruling on the use of E15 in model years 2001-2006 will be made after EPA receives the results of additional DOE testing, expected in November. No waiver will be granted for vehicles from model year 2000 and older because of the lack of testing data. Since 1979, up to 10% ethanol (E10) has been used for all conventional cars and light trucks, and for non-road vehicles.
Steps are being taken to help consumers easily identify the correct fuel for their vehicles and equipment. EPA is proposing E15 pump labeling requirements, including a requirement that the fuel industry specify the ethanol content of gasoline sold to retailers. There would also be a quarterly survey of retail stations to help ensure their gas pumps are properly labeled.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated an increase in the overall volume of renewable fuels in the marketplace, reaching a 36 billion gallons total in 2022. Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because it's produced from plant products or wastes. See the
EPA release and the
EPA E15 Web site.
