Roger W. Chase - Mayor of City of Pocatello

Name: In Office: Address: Telephone: Website:

Roger W. Chase 2001 - Present P. O. Box 4169 Pocatello, ID 60115 208-234-6163 www.pocatello.us

The City of Pocatello has always been forward thinking.  For example, in the early 1980’s the City started generating power from process methane gas, which directly reduces greenhouse gases and supplies additional power to the grid.  In 1991, the City began a neighborhood recycling drop-off program to reduce landfill volumes.  However after attending the Sundance Summit in 2006, Mayor Chase challenged municipal employees and the general public to do even more. 

The Mayor asked City Department Heads to take an inventory of their facilities and fleets to see how the City could improve energy and water conservation, make changes in purchasing policies and increase the City’s “green” presence.  Mayor Chase also encouraged citizens to be proactive.  They shouldn’t wait for a detailed environmental plan from local, state or federal government but come up with simple ways to make a difference on their own.

Snapshot of Cool Achievements

• 2007: The City of Pocatello expanded its volunteer drop-off recycling program to seven locations around the city.  These sites accept newspaper, cardboard, plastic bottles, steel cans and aluminum cans.  For calendar 2005, the City accepted 339 tons of newspaper, 152 tons of cardboard, 30 tons of PET plastic, 11 tongs of HDPE plastic, 12 tons of steel cans and 6 tons of aluminum cans.  These materials represent 550 tons of materials that were not placed in the Bannock County Landfill.  Current trends for 2007 indicate a similar trend for recycled materials.
• 2007: Pocatello has instituted a test protocol for the use of Biodiesel (B20) in portions of the City fleet.  Fifteen diesel vehicles from five City departments will exclusively use the B20 biodiesel product for up to six months.  During the winter months, test vehicles will use B10 blend to reduce cold flow issues with the fleet.  City Transit buses, Fire Department vehicles, Sanitation trucks, Street Department trucks and Water Department trucks will be part of the test protocol.  Following completion of the test protocol, the City will evaluate issues and potential concerns with switching the entire City diesel fleet to biodiesel. 
• 2006: After attending the 2006 Sundance Summit, Mayor Roger Chase signed the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement making him the second Mayor in Idaho to realize the importance of this agreement.
• 2005: Since 2005, Pocatello has been upgrading street lights, traffic lights and pedestrian crossing lights from standard bulbs to lower wattage or LED bulb.  Street lights are being changed from 400 watts to 200 watts, and this process is approximately 50% complete.  Traffic light conversion is from 169 watt bulbs to 9 watt bulbs and is essentially complete.  Pedestrian crossing signals are being converted from 69 watt to 15 watt bulbs, and the project is essentially complete on all City signals. 
• 2005: With support from Mayor Chase, City employees organize and host, with help from other governmental and private agencies, the first Environmental Fair.  The fair provides a forum to educate and inspire citizens to take responsibility for making the community a better place.  Education information about alternative ways of consuming, personal wellness and living environmentally conscious is always presented.  The goal is to encourage participants to make daily and long-term choices that will positively contribute to a healthier environment.
• 2004: Pocatello has been investigating the feasibility of establishing a wind turbine farm near the city for the last two years.  We are currently negotiating a contract with an engineering firm to evaluate the commercial potential of the wind site, on which two years data has been collected.  The wind farm, which would be located on a combination of private and federal lands, has the potential to produce up to 10 megawatts of greenhouse gas-free energy for distribution through the grid.

A Cool Quote

"Little steps can accomplish big things.  By taking small steps, such as turning off lights, occasionally walking/biking to work, or recycling, we can change the world for the better.  Every person can make a difference."