Green Jealousy

This morning I awoke and as usual had my coffee and read the blogs. In my perusal I came across Chris Varley's Economic Development Blog where he highlights the Akron Beacon Journal's report on a sludge plant in Akron. The plant converts sewage sludge into bio fuel to be used as power for an electric generator. Akron Water Pollution Control Administrator Brian Gresser is quoted in the Akron Beacon Journal, as saying, "We are taking our brown and turning it into Green" (I love that-;). Akron's Mayor Don Plusequellic said ,"the green energy project makes a positive out of a negative and that it will save taxpayers a good deal of money... and be good for the environment. " The article goes on to say that the city and its partner a corporation named KB Compost Services Inc. held a press conference to show off the new $7 million facility at the city's composting plant off Riverview Road. The entire story can be read at Ohio.com.

Now, you may be asking yourself, where is she going with this? Well, I'm jealous! I confess. Others may be jealous of people, I'm jealous of development in other cities, positively green with it! I was at a board meeting the other night of Treez Please, Youngstown's organization dedicated to urban reforestation, and the very subject of sewage sludge came up. Now I admit, I'm not all that knowledgeable about sludge, but when I saw the article in the Akron Beacon Journal today, I said "Damn! would you look at that, they are actually doing it". How wonderful...ohhh...I can feel my face turning pale green even as I type this.

Then yesterday I was in Warren when overcome by the green monster. They have put in a wonderful ice skating rink in Courthouse Square. I want one of those too. In fact, I think it should be included in the plans for the revitalization of Wick Park. I'll save that discussion for another day.

But now I say to myself," Enough of your green jealousy, this taint must be sublimated!." My question is how? I know that Y-towners must work harder and keep pushing, but I'm looking for tangible suggestions. For example, exactly, how do ideas such as a sludge plant get implemented? Would it start with a resolution such as the one between Summit County and KB Compost? What is the most effective way to move good ideas forward. Please comment and advise before I'm eaten alive by the green monster.