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SovTxsF <br /> „G <br /> 1865 <br /> CITY OF SOUTH BEND <br /> PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR <br /> OFFICE OF THE MAYOR <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> January 18, 2012 <br /> Contact: Debra Johnson,Director of Communications <br /> Phone: 574-235-9261 <br /> WELLS FARGO PROVIDES GRANT TO CITY OF SOUND BEND <br /> South Bend Today, Mayor Pete Buttigieg accepted a grant for the City of South Bend <br /> Municipal Energy Office from Wells Fargo. Buttigieg,joined by Jon Burke and Jonathon <br /> Geels of the Municipal Energy Office, met with bank representatives at the Wells <br /> Fargo building downtown on Thursday morning. <br /> "We will use this funding from Wells Fargo to initiate a pilot project to look into <br /> upgrading all street lighting within the city," said Burke. <br /> Wells Fargo representatives presented a $12,500 check to the City of South Bend for an <br /> energy savings lighting project. Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs group also provided a <br /> $6,250 (or 2 to 1) match, making the total donation to the city $18,750. In addition, some <br /> of the grant will go to promote urban gardening groups in the city. The lighting portion of <br /> the grant amounts to $8,000 and the urban gardening receives the remaining $4,500. <br /> The lighting portion of the grant could grow into a larger collaborative effort with Indiana <br /> Michigan Power to potentially replace some 13,000 street lights throughout South Bend. <br /> "Each month, the city spends $85,000 on street lighting," said Buttigieg. "This <br /> technology consumes less than half of the electricity as current lighting and will <br /> dramatically reduce maintenance costs. Being more efficient and finding cost savings is a <br /> win-win for South Bend and its residents." <br /> Mayor Buttigieg and the Municipal Energy Office continue to develop a Strategic Energy <br /> Plan to guide policy in the future. The plan includes building efficiency, energy <br /> conservation, transportation, renewable energy, and health and sustainability initiatives. <br /> "It's opening up opportunities to partner with other organizations and civil entities that <br /> we wouldn't have previously. The collaboration is important to implementing this <br /> energy-saving initiative," said Geels. <br /> 1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601 <br /> PHONE 574/235-9261 • FAx 574/235-9892 <br />