[Sept. 3, 2009 - Omaha World-Herald] Omaha has hired a sustainability coordinator to look for ways to make the city more energy efficient, Mayor Jim Suttle announced today.
Kristi Wamstad-Evans, 33, will start work Tuesday. She was hired with funds from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant program, which is a part of the federal economic stimulus package.
Wamstad-Evans will coordinate the use of a $4.3 million grant that is to create jobs and reduce energy costs. Omaha has until late November to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wamstad-Evans will work in the Planning Department and be paid $70,000 annually, with the money coming from the federal grant.
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Wamstad-Evans also will help develop the city's first master plan for improving energy efficiency and coordinate energy conservation projects for city departments, Suttle said.
Wamstad-Evans said she wants to conduct an energy audit for city buildings and develop ideas on how to make the city more environmentally friendly. Her job “includes activities as simple as recycling to activities as complex as developing a citywide energy policy,” the mayor said.
“Today Omaha is taking a major step in going green,” Suttle said.
Wamstad-Evans was a recycling specialist for the City of Lincoln and, most recently, was the national sustainable solutions program coordinator for HDR. — Maggie O'Brien
Anyone have a comment or thoughts about this?
Moderator/Admin is this where we discuss environmental issues on this forum?
I think its a good "IDEA" but I can see it going really bad.
For individual citizens, going green is easy, saves money, and is the responsible thing to do. However I can see this turning in to a big bureaucratic mess.
Brad wrote:I think its a good "IDEA" but I can see it going really bad.
For individual citizens, going green is easy, saves money, and is the responsible thing to do. However I can see this turning in to a big bureaucratic mess.
How about $50 fees for recycling bin inspections? or or or $50 fees for lightbulb inspections?
I say say with certainty that the HDR connection is a non issue on this one. Also, the grant pretty much requires someone to keep track of the projects and money tied to the 4 mil so if nothing else, she will be doing that. Obviously there is hope that she can do more and save the City and thus its taxpayers some money.
From what I understand, this person went through the typical city hiring process, but was then (as a final candidate) hand chosen by the Mayor. She answers to the Mayor.
As a former city employee, I know she's got a BIG job ahead of her!
As a citizen who has been involved in the green community for quite a while, I wish her luck.
