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Group Will Look at Energy, Air Quality: Mayor Forms Green Ribbon Commission.

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Mar. 23--Mayor Graham Richard on Wednesday night announced the creation of a Green Ribbon Commission made up of community and business leaders to help the city develop a comprehensive energy and clean-air plan.

Richard made the announcement during his Report to the People speech to the southwest quadrant area.

The group will meet and then recommend to the mayor an action plan for reducing energy costs and consumption and for improving air quality. The commission also will work to raise awareness within the community about energy issues and air quality. Residents and businesses will be encouraged to do things to save energy and improve air quality.

Richard has requested the plan include goals and performance measures. Randy Roberts, president of Lincoln Printing, and Regina Leffers, president of Synergid Commercial and chair of the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition, will co-chair the commission.

"The city of Fort Wayne must be a leader in reducing energy costs and air pollution," Richard said. "Proactive energy efforts will make Fort Wayne more competitive in attracting new jobs and businesses. We need to find new ways to be more energy-efficient to save money, improve customer service and enhance the quality of life in Fort Wayne."

Richard also announced goals the city has planned for this year as a continuation of the Mayor's Green City Initiative:

-- Buy six hybrid vehicles. Seven hybrids are currently in use.

-- Expand the use of biodiesel and ethanol fuels.

-- Construct a new mile of greenway along the Towpath Trail. The trail eventually will link the city and New Haven with Aboite Township. More than 4 miles of the Rivergreenway will be paved this year.

Two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency designated Allen County as failing to meet acceptable standards for ozone, which can cause smog. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has drafted a proposal to have Allen County put back on the list of counties nationwide that are in compliance.

A public hearing is scheduled next month on the proposal, and the EPA could act as soon as soon as July.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

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