Bexar to track greenhouse gases

Anton Caputo
Express-News

Area officials want to take the fight against global warming local, and they believe a good first step is determining where the region's greenhouse gases are coming from.

Bexar County commissioners have asked the Alamo Area Council of Governments to create an inventory of all greenhouse gases in the county, and Tuesday they approved spending $3,000 for the study.

The city of San Antonio, the San Antonio Water System and CPS Energy have also committed to funding the project, which should produce a regional inventory of greenhouse gases by August.

"I think this is a very noble and laudable first step," said Commissioner Tommy Adkisson.

Greenhouse gasses, which scientists say are responsible for global warming, are produced by both natural and manmade means, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

The inventory will include the sources of all the major greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These sources can range from huge facilities such as CPS Energy's power plants to vehicles and even lawnmowers.

Several cities in other parts of the country have created such inventories, but the project could be a first in Texas.

Steven Smeltzer, AACOG environmental manager, said no major city in the state has created such an inventory, although Austin is discussing it.

With the inventory in hand, county officials hope to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gases by the year's end.

The emissions inventory is part of a two-pronged action on global warming discussed at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. County officials also agreed to look for a consultant to help the county make its operations carbon-neutral, or at least make significant strides in that direction, in as little as five years. This would involve reducing the greenhouse gases from its fleet of vehicles, 39 structures and 18 parks and civic centers.

Betty Bueche, director of the county's infrastructure services, said such a plan could include using more renewable energy and energy-efficient building methods, as well as buying carbon offsets from companies that will do things such as plant forests. She said a few more colorful ideas also are being considered, such as mimicking Denver, which uses goats in its parks instead of lawnmowers.

Commissioners unanimously approved the environmental initiatives Tuesday, although not all were as gung-ho as Adkisson.

"I was scared to death you were going to make me watch an Al Gore video," said Commissioner Lyle Larson. "Thank God you didn't subject us to that."