Mayor seeks energy efficiency expert

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has created a new trust fund he hopes will help make Pittsburgh more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

The mayor gave the Green Initiative Trust Fund $100,000. That's about half of what the city has saved by combining its energy purchases with Allegheny County.

Ravenstahl says a coordinator will be hired for $45,000 annually to help implement the Green Government Task Force's plan to cut pollution in the city by 20 percent.

Environmental officials say they hope the trust fund will get matching state, federal and foundation grants.

They say making some of the city's old buildings energy efficient could cost millions of dollars.