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need to thrive and be competitive. Supporting this resolution sends a clear message that we are a <br />progressive, flexible and adaptive community welcome to change. <br />Andrew Turba, 1507 Sunnymede Avenue South Bend 46615, thanked the Committee for <br />providing the time to voice their support for the proposed resolution which would make a slow <br />transition to clean energy in South Bend. In skipping the environmental and financial costs, this <br />is something that cannot continue and is not sustainable. Last year we celebrated SB 150 and we <br />commemorated that celebration with a new city flag. One of. the required four (4) themes of the <br />flag was innovation. South Bend has a history of innovation starting with our manufacturing <br />roots and more currently through collaborative efforts with our local universities and hospitals. <br />In the new spirit of innovation, South Bend is seeing a return of self - sufficiency. Notre Dame <br />will once again be harnessing the power of the St. Joseph River to generate electricity and the <br />City of South Bend recently installed solar panels on the roof of the Century Center. Last year <br />also saw an effort by six (6) faith communities to install solar panels on their own houses of <br />worship. The common theme of these projects is they were not done alone by one (1) entity. <br />They were cooperative efforts by multiple organizations. Large corporations like I &M cannot be <br />considered evil or bad but they must reach out to communities to partner wtih and support these <br />projects. With enough of these large scale solar fields we can do away with coal as an energy <br />source. Nobody knows the end game but what is clear is that we cannot continue on this path of <br />polluting the earth. <br />Stephen Fountain, 3909 Greenmont Dr., stated he moved back to South Bend about four (4) <br />years ago and was disillusioned by how things worked here and seemed to stay the same as they <br />were when he lived here twenty -three (23) years ago. He has witnessed horrible atrocities by the <br />coal industry and highly suggests people google Peabody Coal to see the horrible things the coal <br />industry has done. Mr. Fountain stated when he lived in Oregon he actually got money back from <br />the energy company because he was such a low consumer and you could drive for three (3) hours <br />and see wind turbines the entire drive but in Indiana you see only two (2) in the entire north west <br />portion of Indiana. Coal is a dirty industry in every capacity and that needs to be taken into focus <br />and how it affects all Indiana communities. <br />Lisa Harris, 53175 Oaktown Dr. 46635, spoke in support of the resolution as filed. She stated she <br />lived in Vermont for fifteen (15) years and it's amazing to see what is out there in renewable <br />sources of energy. She stated she is a former employee of the EPA in Washington D.C. and <br />understands how the industry works and the importance of energy in our lives. Air and water <br />quality are vital issues and coal mining and burning coal severely negatively impacts them. In <br />this country we too often stay in our comfort zones with the idea that we will have coal forever <br />but that is not going to happen. It is a shame we are not more forward thinking when we think of <br />the future generations. The Council should continue to move forward in support of this <br />resolution because we do not have a limitless amount of coal or the capacity to keep people <br />healthy in the terms of where it is mined and burned. <br />Those wishing to speak in opposition: <br />Jeff Rae, President and CEO of St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce 101 North Michigan <br />Street South Bend 46601, stated "oppose" is not really the right word but he does oppose the <br />