An article in today's New York Times, titled In Many Communities, It's Not Easy Going Green, reminded me that I meant to blog about the first-ever all-employee meeting the Town of Jackson and Teton County held on Tuesday. (Once I fell out of the daily habit of blogging, I seem to need reminders like this to do what came naturally and automatically every day last year.)

Anyway, the occasion for the all-employee meeting was twofold: celebration and education. Teton County and the Town of Jackson now have an approved Energy Efficiency Action Plan (aka 10 x 10), and it was time to rally the troops. The event itself was well organized, took advantage of the Theater at the Center For The Arts as a perfect space for both an educational session and an after-party, and featured presentations by employee leaders of the various action teams.

The message was clear: our local governments have committed to reduce energy and fuel use by 10% by the end of 2010 (compared to 2006 baseline data). Why? Because it is prudent fiscal policy. Period.

I can't/won't argue with the point of view that the 10 x 10 initiative will save taxpayers' money. And I fully realize that the only way Town Council and the Board of County Commissioners could muster unanimous approval for 10 x 10 was to avoid any shade of green. But I do think it's disingenuous to advance such a politically correct rationale.

After all, for many folks in this community, money is no object. In a valley full of 8-10,000 square foot homes with heated driveways, it's going to take more than an economic argument to get the citizenry to follow our governments' lead.

I feel strongly that every household and business in Teton County should embrace the spirit of 10 x10 and set out on a measurable path of energy reduction. Why? Because we're energy pigs! Period.

Sorry folks. There's no way I can beat around the bush on that simple fact.

Had today's NYT article mentioned Jackson Hole in its summary of community efforts, it would have had another obstacle to going green to talk about — the one where folks are afraid to admit that's what they are really trying to do.

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