From a pool of more than 100 applicants, the City of Manhattan Beach was selected as one of five cities to win an honorable mention in the 2012 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards.
Mayor Wayne Powell accepted the honor last week at a special luncheon and ceremony held during he United States Conference of Mayors in Orlando, FL. USCM President Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia, presented the award during its sixth annual presentation.
The Mayors' Climate Protection Awards, an initiative sponsored by USCM and Walmart, recognizes cities for their innovative practices in energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. An independent panel of judges selects the winners.
“I am proud to accept this award as a representative for the City of Manhattan Beach — a city that is recognized as a pioneer and leader in energy-efficient, sustainable and eco-friendly living,” said Mayor Powell. “We will continue to make strides to preserve and protect the climate and the environment in a cost-effective manner.”
Grand Rapids, MI and Beaverton, OR were honored as the nation's overall winners. Honorable mentions were awarded to five large and five small cities:
Small City Honorable Mentions: Manhattan Beach, CA; Rochester Hills, MI; Racine, WI; Pleasanton, CA, and Newton, MA.
Large City Honorable Mentions: Indianapolis, IN; Denton, TX; Charlotte, NC; Oakland, CA, and Los Angeles, CA.
“We are proud to honor these cities and their mayors, who remind all of us how their leadership is making a real difference in protecting the climate and improving the quality of life in their communities," said Walmart's Senior Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations Amy Hill. "At the end of the day, local efforts, which increase sustainability and save money, provide results that strengthen the U.S. economy."
The USCM is the official nonpartisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,210 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented at the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
