Milwaukee council seeks greater energy efficiency for cityApr 2 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Don Walker Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee aldermen on Wednesday approved a resolution directing two city departments to create an energy independence plan that could reduce reliance on utilities for electricity, natural gas and heat to operate city facilities and infrastructure. The city is already committed to reducing energy use 20% by 2025 and increase its reliance on renewable energy to 25% by that year. The new resolution calls on the Department of Administration-Office of Environmental Sustainability and the Department of Public Works to create an energy independence plan. The resolution noted that the city has seen a 6.7% reduction in kilowatt hours from 2005 through 2012 for streetlights and traffic signals. But during the same time, the resolution states, We Energies has increased its rates 9.7% for streetlights and traffic signals. Council members also approved giving city employees the option of taking March 31 off in observation of the birthday of labor and civil rights leader Cesar E. Chavez. Upon authorization from a department head, an employee may take Cesar E. Chavez Day as a paid holiday as a substitute for another paid holiday. The employee must use vacation or compensatory time off for the holiday they gave up for March 31 of this year. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=32043355& |