Press Release -- 1/23/2008

McKim for Council
3714 N Bittersweet Dr
Bloomington, IN 47408
(812) 322 2762
committee@mckimforcouncil.com

Geoff McKim, candidate for the Monroe County Council, has proposed an aggressive plan to improve the energy efficiency of county government. "Escalating fuel and energy costs are hurting our citizens' pocketbooks and stressing the county budget," said McKim. "My plan will place resource efficiency at the center of county financial planning, adapting to rising energy prices while promoting environmental sustainability."

McKim's plan includes a number of key elements:

1. An energy audit of county government that identifies realistic targets for savings over the next five years.
2. Quarterly energy reduction targets that take into account both fuel use and cost.
3. Requiring county departments to provide easy-to-read public reports on their progress in meeting targets
4. Enforcing targets through the county's budget process.
5. Providing departments with maximum flexibility to meet targets, through green construction, more efficient vehicles, alternate work arrangements, etc.

"We need to involve everybody who is going to have to change the way they do business if we are going to control energy usage," said McKim. McKim also suggested that the county should explore partnerships with other governmental units, and that Monroe County can learn from other communities that have already adopted resource-efficiency plans.

"We need to act now to meet the challenge of higher energy prices," said McKim. "I am ready to bring my years of experience in improving the efficiency of government agencies to the Monroe County Council. Through smart management we can live more sustainably and control the budget at the same time."