Page 12 - Sept-Oct2023 Vol 41 No 3

STATEWIDE Reprinted with permission from Tennessee Town and City
TN Municipal League Award WInners

Excellence in Green Leadership: PARIS

From LED lightbulbs to EV charging city a more modern feel. Upcoming plans
stations to an 80-acre solar farm, officials include adding LED lighting to local sports
with the City of Paris have made numerous fields.
investments in green energy resulting in Officials in Paris have also worked to
both financial savings and community improve the community’s walkability,
beautification. utilizing three grants totaling more than
In recognition of the concerted efforts $2.5 million to construct new sidewalks.
made by Paris officials to make their These projects have connected four schools
community more sustainable and energy to a main retail thoroughfare via sidewalks
efficient, the Tennessee Municipal League and are used daily in the community. The Paris Solar Farm also is powering
(TML) presented Paris with an award for Power Supply Flexibility four Waypoints solar powered EV charging
Excellence in Green Leadership at the By working with the Paris Board of stations at the city’s Eiffel Tower Park.
TML 83rd Annual Conference held at the Public Utilities (BPU) and TVA’s power These are the first Rivian solar powered
Renaissance Nashville Hotel. supply flexibility program, Paris officials EV chargers to go live in Tennessee.
Paris began building its sustainability contracted with a solar developer to Additionally, Paris continues to work with
portfolio with a project that transitioned provide 5% of the community’s annual Paris BPU and TVA to add four more fast
2,500 streetlights to LED bulbs. This energy. The Paris Solar Farm sits on 80 charging EV stations to the downtown
led to the modification to several acres and supplies 6.75 megawatts of area.
municipal buildings to have LED lighting, power, enough to power 1,000 homes. By building on past sustainability
programmable thermostats, movement The solar farm provides electric rate successes and securing partnerships
sensors for lights, and updated HVAC stability and is projected to save $300,000 and grant funding to make projects a
systems. The energy savings generated in power costs. Local industries also will be reality, Paris has successfully combined
from this move has more than paid for the able to claim renewable energy certificates sustainability, cost efficiency, and
associated debt service as well as given the assisting with carbon reduction goals. beautification.
Excellence in Public Works: COLLEGEDALE

Following a train derailment that The derailment caused three engines
damaged an important intersection and 10 rail cars to leave the tracks.
on a major community thoroughfare, This also resulted in damage to the city
Collegedale Public Works immediately greenway and sidewalks. Collegedale
went to work ensuring the safety of Public Works employees were on the
citizens, and has continued its repair work scene within seconds of the crash, as
of damage sustained during the accident. one employee was driving by when it
In recognition of the concerted efforts happened.
made by the Collegedale Public Works Collegedale Public Works Employees
Department to respond quickly and Work the Scene Department assisted with transporting and
efficiently to this incident, the Tennessee That employee immediately checked on deploying boom socks along the nearby
Municipal League (TML) presented the safety of people on the train and in the Wolftever Creek to catch any diesel fuel
Collegedale with an award for Excellence surrounding area. A code enforcement and oil lost in the accident before it could
in Public Works at the TML 83rd Annual officer also quickly responded from his negatively impact local waters.
Conference held at the Renaissance office and provided first aid to one of the In the incident’s aftermath, the Public
Nashville Hotel. train engineers until EMS could arrive. Works department now has designed, bid
On Dec. 20, 2022, a truck struck a out, and worked alongside contractors to
Public Works employees then aided
Norfolk Southern train that was carrying a police and fire officials with clearing the repair the damage caused by the accident
137-foot concrete beam, resulting in a train area of people, directing traffic, and helping to the roadways, greenway, and damaged
derailment. Police said the driver attempted set up barrels, cones, barricades, and traffic sidewalks. In addition, Public Works
to drive across the railroad crossing but signs to both detour people around the site employees also have helped with the
stopped halfway across the tracks, bringing and to be able to respond in case of fire. creation of detours and safety signage to
his tractor trailer into the oncoming lane of Additionally, the Public Works direct traffic around the site while repairs
traffic when the train hit. are ongoing.
12 TPW September/October 2023