Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will lead the "Fall Ride for Fallen Officers" on Sept. 23.
The motorcycle ride is being held to help raise $1.3 million needed for a memorial planned at the newly restored and renovated state Capitol to honor the 120 Utah police officers who have died in the line of duty.
Riders will start at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi and travel along State Street to the Capitol, where the governor will speak along with Lynette Gurr, widow of late Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr, and Adam Faraone, son of late Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Jim Faraone.
"This unforgettable ride will hopefully make sure nobody forgets the sacrifices made by Utah's finest," Huntsman said.
There is no entry fee to join the ride, but participants are asked to raise donations by having friends, family and business associates sponsor them. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.utahfallen.org.
Mayor Rocky Anderson touted Salt Lake City's sustainability and green-building initiatives and emphasized the critical role of local government in enhancing efficiencies and combating climate change Thursday at the 2007 Columbus Green Building Expo in Columbus, Ohio.
"Buildings are responsible for 43 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States annually, with emissions from residential and commercial buildings comprising the majority of this total," Anderson said. "When governments and corporations choose sustainable design and efficient building practices, they demonstrate not only good business sense, but fulfill their responsibilities to residents, shareholders and the global community."
Anderson also noted that, according to the 2006 McGraw-Hill Construction Green Building SmartMarket Report, green buildings are on average 7.5 percent more valuable and enjoy a 6.6 percent greater return on investment.
In addition, a 2003 study of sustainable buildings by the California State and Consumer Services Agency found that, while initial construction costs for green buildings were about 2 percent higher than comparable conventional structures, the reduced costs for energy, water and waste disposal for the green buildings were more than 10 times greater than the initial premium.
In 2005, Anderson issued an executive order requiring that all new buildings owned and operated by Salt Lake City government be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified at least at the silver level, as must all major renovation projects.
In November, the Salt Lake City Council unanimously endorsed the administration's High Performance Building Initiative and now requires that all projects that receive City funds be LEED certified.
The Intermodal Transportation Hub was the first LEED-certified building constructed by Salt Lake City government.