My testimony to the Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on the Environment on Wednesday March 18, 2015.

Good afternoon.  My name is Meenal Raval. Today I speak as a member of the Mt Airy Greening Net. MAGNet. 

When the Nutter Administration introduced the Greenworks plan, we rejoiced.  And waited to watch Philadelphia transform into the promised greenest city in the nation.  

Now, as Mayor Nutter’s work winds down, and we review the Greenworks progress report published last year, we see that we haven’t met quite all the targets we set out to. 

Notably, the first target, that of Lowering City Government Energy Consumption by 30% between 2008 and 2015.  Instead, we see an increase of almost 2%. As I understand, City owned buildings use a large portion of this energy, about 60%. And meeting the target would have reduced our need for dirty polluting fuels. Fuels such as natural gas.  Obtained by fracking. 

A starting point could be this room.  Last week, Mr Rinaldi noticed the burned out bulbs. That’s not what I noticed. To me they look like incandescent bulbs. Which are getting this room uncomfortably warm.  So yes, it’s about changing the lightbulbs. And then the HVAC controls. And then the windows.  And then…etc. You could see a 2/3 reduction in your energy needs with a 4-5 year payback.  Which translates to a savings of about $36 million per year. Better than looking for change under the couch cushions.  

We’re concerned to see this Council even considering the energy hub proposal.  Because this means discussions & negotiations with the largest greenhouse gas emitter in our region; who is planning to emit even more toxic greenhouse gases into our air. Pollutants responsible for cancer and asthma in neighborhoods that can least afford it. 

In this day, when on the global scene there are movements to #divest of #fossilfuel investments, to keeping known fossil fuel reserves in the ground; when other states, like New York, are banning #fracking. This energy hub, to us, is incomprehensible. 

How can we, as citizens, work with Council to develop energy solutions for the people? Solutions that are healthy, job creating, and sustainable? Dialogue with us.  In this city of neighborhoods, known for a populace that spends entire lives schooling, living, working and retiring in this same city, we’re here to stay.  Unlike newly formed corporations that form and soon dissolve.  

Thank you, all.