Constantine discusses King County innovations at Washington D.C. climate change conference

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Dow Constantine led a panel discussion on efforts by local governments to use hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels today at the Climate Communities Federal Policy Action Team meeting in Washington, D.C.

Climate Communities, an advocacy group comprised of some of the nation’s top local government leaders on climate change, was formed to help shape current and future federal policy on climate change issues. The three-day kickoff brings together 26 officials from 19 cities, counties, and governmental agencies, including King and Snohomish Counties.

King County owns and operates the largest hybrid bus fleet in the country and has been a leader in the use of biofuels in buses. The County, which has won national honors for adding hybrid vehicles to its regular fleets, also plans to implement demonstration projects using other forms of transportation technologies and clean fuels.

“Our goal is to provide a unified voice for local governments that are already leading the way in fighting climate change and carbon emissions,” said Constantine. “There is important work on climate change taking place in local communities across the country that can be built on or replicated at the national level.”

As a King County Councilmember, Constantine has sponsored or co-sponsored legislation addressing climate change issues, including an ordinance authorizing King County’s participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange and legislation that made aggressive, specific commitments to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by county operations.

Constantine also sponsored the Washington legislature's first bills addressing climate change as a member of the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives, before joining the King County Council.