T.M. Franklin Cownie - Mayor of City of Des Moines

Name: In Office: Address: Telephone: Website:

T. M. Franklin Cownie 2004 - Present 675 Harwood Drive Des Moines, IA 50312 515-283-4944 www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/mayor_council/

As mayor in a state that ranks first in the nation in corn and soybean production, Frank Cownie knows the macro benefits of cleaner-burning, renewable biofuels, greater energy independence, and fewer emissions. And he knows there’s money to be made. Though he’s only officially part-time, he’s been working around-the-clock to tackle climate change in ways that make dollars and sense.
 
To date, Mayor Cownie has worked to green the city’s buildings and its fleet of vehicles, and has recently appointed a key stakeholder task force to find ways to tackle emissions in the city. With Iowa poised for economic rebirth as a hub for renewable energy expertise, it’s clear this is just the beginning for Mayor Cownie.

Snapshot of Cool Achievements

• 2006: Persuades ICLEI to designate Des Moines as the fourth city in the United States to land a Regional Capacity Center that will help measure city-level emissions and test ways to reduce them
• 2006: Sets up an Energy and Environment Task Force for Des Moines 
• 2005: Signs U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
• 2005: Becomes one of a handful of mayors from around the U.S. to attend the First Sundance Climate Summit in Utah

A Cool Quote

"I do this because I have a moral compass that tells me it’s the right thing to do. It’s not about me. In my heart and in my head I know it’s the right thing for the future of our children, for our city, for our state and for this country, if not the world."