Group Kicks off Green Civic Election Message on LRT
EDMONTON - At 8am this morning RePower Edmonton, a local group of the provincial network RePower Alberta, took to Edmonton’s light rail transit (LRT) to engage with riders and ensure that green energy is one of the key topics in this year’s civic election. Members of the group were on the LRT with pamphlets and green leaf pins to encourage the riders to commit to vote for civic candidates that support energy efficiency and a renewable energy economy. The group chose the LRT to highlight the difference between civic choices in Edmonton and Calgary – Edmonton’s transit system is run on environmentally destructive coal power while Calgary’s C-Train is powered by wind energy.
“Hockey, recycling, public transit, Edmonton is a city of champions in many ways, however when it comes to truly moving away from a reliance on fossil fuels we are falling behind,” comments Myles Curry, Chair with RePower Edmonton. “The municipal election is an excellent opportunity for Edmontonians to join the movement for renewable power and to let their election hopefuls know they want to see this change happen now.”
The group highlights the opportunities for local improvements in energy efficiency, energy procurement and renewable energy development. Municipal policies to install solar installations on the roofs of public buildings, or to ensure high efficiency light bulbs on city streets reduce greenhouse gases, will reduce energy costs and provide new job opportunities.
“Shifting Edmonton to a green economy has benefits that go beyond ensuring a healthier environment for the future,” asserts Laura Collison, member of RePower Edmonton. “Energy security, food security and long term jobs are all a part of a green energy economy. In Edmonton we have the potential to be real green champions, now let’s tell our municipal candidate s that this is something important for us.”
RePower Edmonton has sent out an environment survey to all candidates running in the municipal election. They have a website at www.repoweralberta.ca/edmonton with more information and will be posting the positions of the candidates that reply to the survey. The website also contains information on upcoming local municipal debates and potential green policies Edmonton civic candidates could implement.
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For more information, please contact:
- Myles Curry, RePower Edmonton – 780.667.0792
- Chelsea Flook, Sierra Club Prairie – 780.722.1226