The City Council debated and ultimately voted against a proposal Tuesday night to require fluorescent light bulbs in certain city buildings, including various campus apartment buildings.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, proposed the ordinance. Other sponsors of the mandate included Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, the Sierra Club and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
King said the proposed ordinance was an attempt to show how Madison is fighting the changing global climate.
Jennifer Feyerherm, a member of the Sierra Club, said in enacting the ordinance, Madison would have saved up to $2 million annually on energy costs. She also said current incandescent light bulbs create 35,000 more tons of pollution than fluorescent bulbs.
""This is from merely changing light bulbs,"" Feyerherm said.
Those opposed to King's proposal said it impeded on tenant's rights. Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, said the bulbs contain mercury and, since apartment tenants would have no say in whether bulbs were implemented, they should not have to fear mercury poisoning.
""The decision would be taken out of the hands of the [tenant],"" Compton said, adding that the chance for a lawsuit against the city would have been a possibility had the proposal passed.
