Monday, January 4, 2016

Vicki Bennett Interview notes

Sustainability Director Vicki Bennett - Salt Lake City
Interview by Darby Minow Smith

Mormons, snow, sobriety
progressive politics, despite Utah conservatism
poor air quality from burgeoning suburbs: 200,000 in the city, and a further 1 million in the greater metropolitan area

Salt Lake City as settled by Mormon pioneers, refugees fleeing persecution
necessity for independence
comprehensive, holistic approach to planning the city
personification of sustainability
survival and working the land

Met the Kyoto goals by reducing our municipal operation climate footprint
working with more conservative cities necessitates discussion on air quality and reducing vehicle miles traveled and the benefits of energy efficiency to minimize how much electricity to use
reduce amount of oil and heating fuel and natural gas needed - same outcome in reducing use of carbon-based fuels

GOP presidential candidate to admit global warming is real and human caused: Jon Huntsman as typical of Utah Republicans?
definite outlier, most progressive Republican
Comparing Salt Lake City and New York City in the impact of climate change
70% of water comes from mountains via snowpack
no reservoirs immediately next to the city, less water with climate change
quality of water is concerning 
more beetle-kill in the forests
drier soils and higher chance of wildfires > silt in water
Health issues
diseases and vectors

economic impact of less skiing!

No comments:

Post a Comment