Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced he has hired the author of the Green Government Task Force's study on how to make city government more environmentally friendly as the city's first "sustainability coordinator."

Lindsay A. Baxter, who is working towards a master's degree in environmental science and management from Duquesne University, will be charged with implementing the report she wrote for the task force. She began work Monday and will be paid $45,347.

"Ms. Baxter will help us meet the challenge to take our city to the next level of green," Mr. Ravenstahl said in a news release. "We've made great strides to reduce our city's carbon footprint, and we will continue to do what it takes to help our region create green collar jobs and improve our residents' quality of life."

One of the main goals of the office will be to reduce the energy usage and waste. That will be done by changing practices used by city employees and encouraging the public to participate in environmentally friendly activities in their daily lives.