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Pictured from left to right: Julius Ciaccia- Director of Public Utilities, Councilman Matt Zone, Andrew Watterson- Cleveland Sustainability Manager, and David Beach- Director, Ecocity Cleveland.

Supporters for Cleveland's new Sustainability Program packed the city council committee room on February 1, to listen to manager Andrew Watterson give a status update of the program. David Beach, an advisory board member with Ecocity Cleveland, opened up the segment interpreting what sustainability is all about and the importance of the new program. The advisory board overseeing the program is made up of representative from seven non-profits, city council and the administration. Beach stressed that Cleveland can be an innovation lab and that we must lead by example.

Watterson, whose new position as Sustainability Programs manager, was funded for the first two years by the Cleveland and Gund Foundations. The position is anticipated to be sustained from the money saved by Cleveland from sustainable practices. The goal of the program is to save the city money, reduce the ecological footprint, sustainable economic development, and to introduce sustainable principles into city government.

The strategy for the internal policies consist of leading by example, operations and management, education,and procurement. The external policies will focus on projects and initiatives. Some of the initiatives include wind energy, co-gen power (steam and electricity), high performance buildings, construction waste management, and energy audits. Current projects include anti-idling policy for vehicle fleets, biodiesel pilot project, alternative transportation with 82 employees signed up, purchasing policies integrating sustainability, air and water quality, storm water management recycling and greenspace preservation.

Councilman Polensek felt that the sustainability program is so important, that a subcommittee should be formed to work with the manager and address its potential for all the wards in the city. The hearing concluded with city council moving two ordinances forward regarding the sustainable initiatives. The first ordinance will extend the license agreement with Green Energy Ohio for use of the Kirtland Crib to maintain a wind monitoring tower and continue their wind study for two years, and to install a new wind turbine to generate power for the crib. The second ordinance will upgrade the Nottingham Water Works Plant's pump control systems and instrumentation.

After its first year in existence, the Sustainability Program has been a success. Andrew Watterson received accolades from the city council utilities committee and a large round of applause from his fans in the audience. This program has demonstrated that Cleveland will be leader in sustainability practices and is showing the nation that we will lead by example.