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spoke, many more people in this community care about this issue. More than 2,000 I &M customers have signed petitioners to I &M to move as expeditiously as possible to move away from coal to cleaner energies. Ms. Perras submitted a working resolution to the Council and Clerk's Office that uses as a starting point the resolution that was originally filed and has new edits. Ms. Perras informed the Committee that the areas shaded in blue is language where there is agreement with I &M. The items in grey are areas where there is still disagreement, I &M deleted from their resolution a number of paragraphs from the resolution that was originally filed. There is some agreement on the `now therefore' clauses but there is also disagreement as well. Ms. Perras stated it is Sierra Club's belief that the Common Council should call on I &M to transition away from coal as expeditiously and cost effectively as possible. The Council should also support renewable energy as well in the final resolution. Committee Chair Dr. Varner asked if `cost effective' and `affordability' are the same thing. Ms. Perras responded not necessarily. Committee Chair Dr. Varner stated he agreed with her because `cost effective' can actually be very expensive solutions versus something that would affect rates. He asked if affordability was factored into their resolution. Ms. Perras responded in the first clause it does say "cost effective and affordable ". The Sierra Club version also calls on I &M to develop expanded cost effective programs to weatherize and improve efficiency in homes, especially related to low- income and fixed - income households. This is as opposed to their proposed language which only asks I &M to continue working with stakeholders to hear ideas. Ms. Perras stated I &M's energy efficiency program is controversial in how it is being implemented and the Sierra Club's language would better meet the customer needs here in South Bend of many low - income households. There have been numerous studies across the country that show energy efficiency can help this transition take place and keep bills affordable for those lower income customers. The Sierra Club also wanted to make sure the workers at I &M especially at the Rockport plant were mentioned in the third clause and they are willing to work on that language. Ms. Perras stressed that the Rockport Plant is the essential question that I &M and AEP face in the next few years. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission recently acknowledged that and acknowledged that all the major stakeholders believe the plant is a central question facing I &M. This resolution should speak to that question as the lease on one (1) unit is expiring and as they face the cost of putting on scrubbers and also the cost of putting on pollution controls. If the resolution doesn't speak to that issue, the Council would just be telling I &M to continue doing what they are doing and that is not what the folks gathered here today want the Council to do. This is an opportunity for the Council to add their voice to all of those who are calling for the transition away from coal to take place and to do it in an expeditious and cost effective way. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand asked Ms. Perras if this issue is time sensitive related to the overall purpose of engaging the Council. She asked if there is something pending before I &M or any other public agency. W