A Step Towards A Greener Springfield?

City Councilman Dan Chiles is part of an effort to organize a "New Fuels Conference" in Springfield.

For security, price stability and economic development, Springfield needs new carbon-neutral fuels for electrical generation and transportation, according to the "New Fuels" organizational meeting memo.

The first organizational meeting to tackle this issue will be held Friday, June 1st at 2 p.m. The location is to be determined based on interest.

Policy makers, city staff and the public are welcome and encouraged to ask questions about new fuels at the meeting.

In general, the group will be looking at fuel crops to 1) supplement fossil fuels for generating electricity 2) to provide ethanols to replace gasoline 3) to provide oils to replace diesel/motor oils. The group will also talk about bio-mass from community tree trimming and the right-of-way plant growth for electrical generation, trash diversion into fuel/coal mix alternatives and landfill and agricultural methane production.

If you are interested in attending, contact the Springfield City Clerk at 417-864-1651.

"Federal and state governments have declared new fuels to be priorities and Springfield should take a leadership role," reads the invitation.