Director of Sustainability

Hi Everybody!

Here is a press release I sent last week about creating a Missouri Director of Sustainability.

To me, this is an example of the kind of legislation that both parties should be able to support. The key is to create a position whose job is to save the state money by being smarter about the way we use our resource. Doesn't that just make sense? Universities and companies are saving billions (I thought it was hundreds of millions, but have been informed that it is much more) by doing exactly this. Shouldn't Missouri have the same opportunity?

My proposal is for a cabinet-level position -- someone who can really have the ear of the governor and with enough weight to interest the press corps.

Done even sort of right, this is the sort of proposal that will be worth far more to the state than what it might cost us (Duke University, for example, saves millions with a $30,000+ position).

Have a great Thursday!

- sean



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008
CONTACT: SEAN SPENCE
573-823-1308; seanspence@earthlink.net


EARTH DAY -- SPENCE PROPOSES MISSOURI DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY

“In the name of saving money and saving our planet, Missouri should create a cabinet-level Director of Sustainability,” Spence said. “My favorite example of success in this area is MU, which saves over $2.2 million annually through energy conservation alone.”

(Columbia, MO) Today Sean Spence, Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 25th legislative district, proposed the creation of a cabinet-level Director of Sustainability, reporting directly to the governor. This position would be tasked with identifying “green” measures that would save the state money and contribute to environmental preservation.

Spence said that universities across the country are creating positions of this kind and should set an example for states. He pointed to the University of Missouri as paving the way for statewide programs.

He said the following quote from a 2004 article about MU’s cost-saving programs should be an inspiration to Missouri:

"Turning off a typical computer every night and weekend saves $60 annually, amounting to thousands when applied to the many computers used across campus," says Paul Hoemann, MU’s director of Energy Management. "Efforts like this don't cost anything."

“MU saves over $2.2 million every year because of the steps it has taken to conserve energy,” Spence said. “This doesn’t even address such areas as paper management, transportation, waste management and purchasing.”

Spence said that merging environmentally friendly policies with cost-savings is also taking hold in corporate America. “Companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Walt Disney are saving millions of dollars every year through their green efforts,” Spence said. “Shouldn’t Missouri have at least one high-level person who focuses exclusively on doing the same?”

Spence, a 1993 graduate of the University of Missouri, runs a public relations and political consulting practice in Columbia. A part-time state employee, Spence is an advisor to State Auditor Susan Montee.

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