Local group lauded for trying to help NWI go greener
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky was among the guests sharing in the 10th anniversary celebration of South Shore Clean Cities Inc. Thursday at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. The SSCC is a coalition of Clean Cities, a voluntary federal program designed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by advancing the use of alternative fuels and vehicles in communities throughout the country.
The Democratic congressman said he was glad the SSCC had the fortitude to start a program in Northwest Indiana, one that is at the heart of moving away from a carbon-based economy in an energy crisis that transcends the price of gasoline.
“You had foresight that most people in this country did not have 10 years ago about the looming energy crisis,” Visclosky said. “Every day you have been adamant in trying to do something about it and trying to solve it.”
Carl Lisek, who coordinates the SSCC along with his wife, Lorrie, said they’ve had a lot of success stories over the last 10 years “but nothing that will compare with what’s to come.”
“We are just getting started,” Lisek said. “It is our goal to become one of the top Clean Cities coalitions in the United States.”
Future plans include working with the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission to implement emission-reduction in 300 school busses in Lake and Porter counties, Lisek said.
Lisek said this will come “at a cost to our school corporations of zero.”
He said goals include working with communities at diesel emission reductions, also at no cost to the communities, and the development of a green fleet program designed strictly for Northern Indiana.
The anniversary celebration included video remarks from U.S. Sen. Richard Luger, R-Ind., and a letter from U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., stating his confidence in the SSCC.
“I am confident in the years to come when we are celebrating the 15th and the 20th anniversaries of South Shore Clean Cities that your organization will be responsible for a much cleaner and economically vibrant Northern Indiana,” Donnelly said in the letter.
ONLINE South Shore Clean Cities Inc.: southshorecleancities.org
