HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-09 City seeks candidates for Municipal Energy Director
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
October 9, 2009
5:00 p.m.
City seeks candidates for Municipal Energy Director
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-
1564, or Gary Gilot, Director of Public Works, 235-9251
The greenest city in the State of Indiana is looking for the right person to help South
Bend become more energy efficient.
In the same week in which South Bend was named the state’s Green Community of the
Year for cities above 30,000 people by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, the
City began recruiting for the right candidate to fill a new Municipal Energy Director
position.
Funded by a federal stimulus grant of more than $1 million ($100,000 of which for the
Energy Office), the Municipal Energy Director will have lead responsibility for
developing the South Bend Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. The strategy
will help South Bend reduce energy consumption costs citywide from $7 million
currently to a goal of $5 million or less, enabling the position to be self-funding and make
municipal government more cost-efficient.
“This is a professional energy-management position, involving the application of
technical, analytical, evaluation and training techniques for the implementation of
energy-related systems, programs, policies and strategies,” said Gary Gilot, the City’s
director of public works. “The Municipal Energy Director will focus the City’s efforts on
forming public private partnerships and communicating with surrounding communities,
and the state energy office, to leverage funding and implement wider-range policies and
programs.”
The full-time director will report directly to Mayor Stephen Luecke. The director will
support such efforts as Cool Cities, Cities for Sustainability and the Green Ribbon
Commission.
The City of South Bend now spends nearly $7 million per year on natural gas and
electricity for municipal buildings as well as for fuel for its vehicular fleet. Based on
experiences from other communities, it is expected the director could cut energy
expenses by $2 million, or more than 25 percent.
Qualified candidates will have knowledge of energy management principles and
practices, including energy conservation and monitoring systems along with utility rate
schedules. Candidates will have the ability to conduct comprehensive analysis and
evaluations of energy operations, and recommend steps for improvement.
At minimum, a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in energy management,
engineering practices or a related subject area is required.
To see the job description for the position, visit the City’s web site:
http://www.southbendin.gov/city/employment/index.asp
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