HJ262: Commending New Kent County which joined the 'Cool Counties' initiative.

WHEREAS, climate changes may pose great risk of flooding to land and property, degradation of air quality, rising insurance costs, contamination of fresh water supplies, and the loss of critical wetland habitats, such as those areas adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay; and

WHEREAS, voluntary action to address climate change in the Commonwealth by its industries and citizens has been aided by the volunteer adoption of climate-sensitive practices; and

WHEREAS, many localities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as green energy bills, preserving open space, implementing better land use policies, improving air quality, promoting waste-to-energy programs, expanding transportation and tele-work choices to reduce traffic congestion, and fostering economic development and job creation through energy conservation and other new technologies; and

WHEREAS, more than 700 cities have become "Cool Cities" and have endorsed the U.S. Mayors ClimateProtection Agreement, which commits cities to a reduction of global warming emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012 and calls for a federal limit on emissions; and

WHEREAS, on September 10, 2007, New Kent County joined the effort of counties representing millions of people to launch the "Cool Counties" initiative, which seeks to marshal the resources of all 3,066 counties across the nation to address the challenges climate change poses to our communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend New Kent County for joining the “Cool Counties" initiative; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the governing authority of New Kent County.