Where there's a Will, there's a way

After a two week delay the Springfield city council passed a resolution approving a contract with RLW Analytics to conduct a study to determine the most effective energy efficiency and conservation programs for Springfield. Its part of the implementation of the clean energy plan worked out between the Sierra Club and CWLP.

There was some controversy over the cost of the study being more than the guesstimate price that was called for in the original agreement with the Sierra Club. The city is going to spend large amounts of money for years into the future on these programs so doing so without a clear plan developed from accurate information about our city's needs would have been fiscally irresponsible.

Personally, I was worried that the contract might end up going to an under-qualified local firm with connections to the political establishment. I had no reason to suspect CWLP was attempting to do that except that its natural for a person to become cynical about that sort of thing when you live in Springfield long enough. It has been known to happen.

So I was happy to see CWLP propose a contract with a national firm that has vast experience doing just these kind of studies. I decided to check the Illinois Board of Elections website and I couldn't find record of any of the top staff at RLW Analytics having given money to any Illinois politician. Wow!

According to the company website one of the early projects of the firm's founder was in the city of Austin. Austin has some of the best energy programs in the country so we're in good shape if that's a sign of things to come.

I'm glad all but one member of the council saw the wisdom of investing in a good plan now to ensure wise use of the money later. You can check the CWLP energy services website to keep up on new programs and developments.