[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17295-17296]
[From the U.S. 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-- 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

[[Page 17296]]

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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