Nickels unveils plans for a green building program

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will start a green building program to improve energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings and create new jobs, he announced in his annual State of the City address this morning.

Calling the state of Seattle "stronger than ever," the mayor said he will start his "Green Building Capital" program by calling together a community panel to discuss how to reach those goals.

"We must find innovative ways to unlock the doors to energy conservation in the homes and businesses that exist today," he said in the speech delivered at the Pacific Science Center as part of a City Council committee meeting.

Nickels also said he also wants to create a customer bill of rights for Seattle residents, saying that too many complaints go unanswered. Last year, the City Council dropped his proposal to create a $9 million 311 phone system to serve customers.

In the 45-minute address, the mayor highlighted the city's history of innovation and said several times, "We will show the world how" to solve the challenges of climate change, transportation and affordable housing.

He said the city would ask voters to renew the housing levy which expires next year, but did not mention preparing a proposal for voters to renew the Pro Parks levy, which expires this year. He also discussed the need to make improvements to Pike Place Market, and many expect he will propose a levy to fix the Market buildings' structural and heating systems this year.

Nickels also praised the city's recent accomplishments, including the completion of the South Lake Union streetcar, building housing for homeless alcoholics and the city's public-safety record.

He pointed to the statistic that violent crime fell last year to its lowest level since 1968, but also acknowledged, "for all the progress we have made, we still have our tragedies," mentioning several murders that took place in January.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com