As Laura Urseny from the E-R reported, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) recognized the City of Chico with one of its seventh annual Green Power Leadership Awards.
Vice-Mayor Ann Schwab, who is helping to lead the City's current sustainability efforts, is seated above front and center wearing her "power" red shirt.
The award will clearly make an excellent paper weight in the City Council office, along with the random assortment of other awards, gifts, and plaques the City has received over the years.
The City of Chico was only one of two cities to receive recognition. The other city was Bellingham, WA.
Schwab flew to Philadelphia to pick up the award.
After picking up the Green Power Leadership Award, I hear that Schwab ran up the infamous steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum like Rocky Balboa and proclaimed that the City of Chico is getting stronger. Okay, not really.
Here is the description of the award in the on-site generation category:
"The city of Chico has demonstrated its commitment to green power by installing two separate solar systems on city facilities. The first installation was a 91 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system installed at the city of Chico's downtown parking structure, which also provides shade to parked vehicles. The second installation was a 1.1 megawatt solar system at the city's water pollution control plant, which at the time of its installation was recognized as the world's largest solar tracker system at a sewage treatment facility as well as the state of California's largest municipal solar array. Together the two municipally owned systems produce over 2 million kilowatt-hours annually. The waste water treatment plant solar array provides approximately 40 percent of the facility's electricity needs, resulting in a 55 percent utility cost savings compared with the previous year of operation. City officials have said that the total cost savings of these systems would be enough to hire three full-time police officers.The city dedicated both installations by organizing events hosted by the mayor and attended by local officials, state representatives and regional media. These events generated publicity and raised the awareness of renewable energy within the community. The city government also conducted targeted outreach to the broader community through newsletters, which was further supported by the installation of an educational kiosk in the foyer of the Municipal Center to educate visitors. The city of Chico has implemented a task force, with representation from community stakeholders, to assist in future sustainability endeavors."
By the way, the Third Annual This Way to Sustainability Conference in Chico is approaching on Nov. 1-4. Awards will also be given to local individuals organizations promoting sustainability efforts.
Today's Scrabble word is slake, or to satisfy or quench.
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