[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8406-S8407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING HASTINGS, NEBRASKA

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 
City of Hastings, NE, for being named ``America's Greenest City'' by 
Yahoo, Inc., the online search engine. During a time when people around 
the world are concerned about energy security and environmental 
quality, they need look no further than the city of Hastings as a 
perfect example of what a community can do to help clean up the 
environment.
  Hastings, with a population of 25,000, located in south-central 
Nebraska, has just won Yahoo's ``Be a Better Planet--

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Greenest City in America'' challenge, beating 350 other cities across 
the Nation which had entered the competition. Some of the environmental 
projects accomplished by the city of Hastings include conversion of 
methane to energy at its pollution control center, production of E85 
ethanol, installation of energy-efficient street lighting, and creation 
of an extensive network of parks and hiking and biking trails.
  Hastings, NE, the birthplace of Kool-Aid, is in the heart of farm 
country, which most certainly contributed to its environmentally sound 
policies. Farmers have always been leaders when it comes to being good 
stewards of the land, water, and air.
  For its efforts, Yahoo offered the city of Hastings its choice of 
either a fleet of hybrid taxi cabs, similar to those donated to New 
York City during the campaign's kickoff on May 14, 2007, or the 
equivalent cash donation. Hastings, which has signed the U.S. Mayor's 
Climate Protection Agreement, selected the latter in order to further 
its environmental programs and become an even greener city. In addition 
to the top prize awarded to Hastings, the top five cities are being 
rewarded with deliveries of thousands of energy-efficient compact 
fluorescent lightbulbs, compliments of Yahoo.
  Hastings mayor Matt Rossen plans to solicit ideas from residents for 
future projects, and Global Green USA will also work with the city of 
Hastings to identify potential city greening projects, such as 
expansion of renewable energy programs and energy-efficient renovations 
for city buildings.
  As Nebraska's Senator, I am extremely proud of Hastings, NE, which 
has shown an outstanding commitment to the development of renewable and 
sustainable energy solutions for protecting the environment, improving 
health, and saving money. In commending the city of Hastings, NE, for 
being named America's Greenest City, I wish to highlight the sentiments 
expressed by Yahoo's cofounder, David Filo, who said, ``The determined 
green spirit demonstrated by the people of Hastings, Nebraska, 
underscores Yahoo's belief that individual actions can add up to 
significant change.''

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