Antioch looking for green people
Antioch village officials are on the lookout for green people.
Not the alien type, but those environmentally, ecologically conscious folks committed to conservation.
Mayor Larry Hanson is forming a Green Advisory Committee and is hoping area residents become members. Hanson said it's time for the village to ramp up it's environmental initiatives.
"There are a lot of ideas worth investigating," Hanson said. "The whole country is thinking green these days. We need to as well."
Hanson said the committee will research energy saving and other conservation ideas and make suggestions to the village board for consideration.
"There are a lot of good ideas out there and we want to hear about them," Hanson said. "Of course there is always a cost involved with these ideas and we'll have to evaluate each to see if we can afford them."
Hanson is getting help from Scott Pollack. The Antioch resident currently serves as the head of the Alternative Energy Advisory Council. The group was started five months ago by Illinois Sen. Michael Bond and has 25 members.
Pollack is leading the effort to get the Antioch group up and running.
He said two people serving on Bond's committee live in Antioch and have agreed to also serve on the Antioch committee. Hanson is hoping to have at least eight Antioch residents on the panel.
Pollack said the committee will research and discuss ideas related to alternative lighting, solar heating, the cleanup of contaminated groundwater and other initiatives.
"Things like this cost money, but we'll be looking at how to obtain funds from the government stimulus programs, block grants from Lake County and capital coming from Springfield," Pollack said.
Pollack said the committee will likely also suggest the village conduct energy audits to pinpoint areas of potential savings or conservation.
"We'll consider everything," Hanson said. "But it has to benefit Antioch."
For details on how to serve, call the Village of Antioch at (847) 395-1000 or Pollack at (847) 707-1114.