A trip to France led to some unexpected results for the Mayor of Bridgewater.
David Mitchell travelled to Clermont-Ferrand to attend the International Network of Michelin Cities conference.
Officials from 30 cities around the world with a Michelin factory met to discuss how to improve sustainability.
Mitchell addressed the conference regarding the Energize Bridgewater plan.
“After I presented it, a delegate from a city in India, a city of eight million people came up, almost with tears in his eyes and said your plan has just solved a problem for eight million people.”
Mitchell says another highlight was to have a ‘made in Nova Scotia’ solution acknowledged.
“The mayor of the city of Clermont-Ferrand was asked how do you know there was value in having this conference. And he turned to me and said because that town just solved a problem for that city. And they have 8,500 people, they have eight million people.”
Mitchell says the city in India had been struggling to find a way to fund making citizens home more energy efficient.
He says they had never thought to allow residents to pay back expenses for making their homes more energy efficient on their tax bills.
Mitchell says an event like this shows good ideas can come from anywhere.
We’re proud and excited to have @MayorMitchellNS and Deputy Mayor @Andrewjtanner talking about @BridgewaterEnrG and our Town’s sustainability efforts at #Inmc21clermont this week. #LeadingEdge #ThinkGreen #MunicipalMatters pic.twitter.com/FGyYpjt4gP
— Town of Bridgewater (@TownBridgewater) December 1, 2017