EPA Honors Chula Vista with Top Environmental Award
 The
City of Chula Vista was presented with one of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's most prestigious awards today during Earth Day
ceremonies in Washington D.C. The City is one of 13 recipients selected
from countries around the world to receive the 2003 Climate Protection
Award. The annual award honors the extraordinary accomplishments
of individuals, companies and organizations that have made significant
contributions to protecting the environment.
Chula Vista Council member Jerry Rindone accepted the award on
behalf of the City. "This is a significant environmental award,
a great achievement," he said. "The entire community got
behind our efforts to protect the environment and improve the quality
of life for all Chula Vista residents - and we've been successful."
EPA officials recognize Chula Vista as a long-standing leader in
local efforts to address climate change. "For over a decade,
Chula Vista has worked to implement innovative measures that both
protect the environment and encourage economic development,"
said Drusilla Hufford, Director of the EPA's Global Programs Division.
" In the areas of energy, transportation, land use, education
and more, they have exemplified the adage about thinking globally,
acting locally."
In the early 1990s, Chula Vista pledged to develop a plan to protect
the environment by preventing emissions of greenhouse gases. The
City formed a citizens' task force made up of business leaders,
residents and government stakeholders, which developed a carbon
dioxide reduction plan. The plan was implemented and expanded as
the City moved into the 21st century. As a result, the City of Chula
Vista significantly reduced its energy consumption and stepped up
efforts to clean up the environment.
"The City has been aggressive about protecting the environment,
and it's been a community wide effort," said Rindone. "Over
the years, we've been able to balance our environmental goals without
impacting our business climate. That's quite an accomplishment."
Among Chula Vista's achievements: Master planned communities pave
the way for pedestrian friendly neighborhoods; select new homes
built under the City's building efficiency program are 15% more
energy efficient than state requirements; most of the City's transit
buses were converted from diesel to natural gas fuel; and city leaders
are actively pursuing fuel cell technology.
This year's award winners are from four countries including China,
India, Korea and the United States. Finalists are chosen by an international
panel of experts with the EPA selecting the actual 2003 Climate
Protection Award winners.
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