After looking at the Tulsa People green issue I was wondering about the possibility of Tulsa becoming the first carbon neutral city in the USA.
I know that major businesses such as HSBC and other cities around the world have started to look at or begun a process of becoming carbon neutral. I think it would be a great way for Tulsa to show that it is ahead of the curve and hopefully lay the ground work for the beginnings of a green energy sector within the city.
Tulsa would have to start with a policy of reducing and off setting carbon. It would encourage people to invest in energy saving measures that would save money in the long run such as insulation and energy efficient products. I'd be interested to hear what other people thought on the issue.
I think to be a truly carbon neutral city we would have to get rid of the oil refineries.
There's no one here with those virtues.
Besides, it costs money. Until local politicans discover a way to make money from it, it'll never happen....like the trash plant.
I believe all the refineries are actually outside the city limits of Tulsa. When the were being built there was a law that they couldnt be IN the city of Tulsa, that is why they are all on the West side. Not sure if the city ended up annexing them or not.
Anyway, there is no chance a city of nearly 1mil could be truly carbon neutral with our current technology. Well, I guess there are ways, but it isnt practical.
Good thought, just isnt really practical yet.
quote:
Originally posted by NellieBly
I think to be a truly carbon neutral city we would have to get rid of the oil refineries.
If it gets rid of the refineries, I am all for it. What we could also do is sign on to Kyoto as a city like Norman has.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I believe all the refineries are actually outside the city limits of Tulsa. When the were being built there was a law that they couldnt be IN the city of Tulsa, that is why they are all on the West side. Not sure if the city ended up annexing them or not.
Anyway, there is no chance a city of nearly 1mil could be truly carbon neutral with our current technology. Well, I guess there are ways, but it isnt practical.
Good thought, just isnt really practical yet.
sunoco and sinclair oil refineries are both outside of tulsa city limits.
I came across this carbon calculator via bikelovejones in a post titled Treading Lightly.
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/
Now, my own carbon average is 4.25. That's less than the national average of 7.5, but far more than Beth's 0.5, which she attributes to not owning a car. I have a car, an older Ford, but I just don't drive much. In fact, I drive roughly half the national average per year, about 6,000 miles. It's difficult to get the average down unless you drive very little.
For the love of all that is sacred, could you please use another term?
"Carbon Neutral" invokes images of Algore
(http://baldilocks.typepad.com/baldilocks/images/al_gore.jpg)
We will be one of the last, don't fool yourself.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Anyway, there is no chance a city of nearly 1mil could be truly carbon neutral with our current technology. Well, I guess there are ways, but it isnt practical.
Good thought, just isnt really practical yet.
The reason I came up with this idea, was based on the proposals of Tyne and Wear. Which is an urban agglomeration over slightly more than a million.
I think it is possible with work and determination.