Sandpoint mayor signs pledge to fight greenhouse gases

Sandpoint’s Ray Miller became the first mayor in North Idaho to sign the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement on Thursday, committing the city to cutting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession has already signed the nonbinding agreement, as have five mayors in southern Idaho and another 452 mayors nationwide. The pledge urges federal and state governments to take action to address global warming.

During the signing ceremony at Sandpoint City Beach, Miller also announced that the city has hired Avista Utilities to do an energy analysis of the city’s facilities and has contracted with an engineering firm to determine how to convert methane gas to energy at the wastewater treatment plant.

Miller had been asked to sign the statement by the Idaho Conservation League and the Climate Change Action Network.

Also attending the signing ceremony was Coldwater Creek founder and CEO Dennis Pence.