SectionsGroup backs renewable energy
Ashley Reh
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: News
Missouri State Reps. Sara Lampe and Charlie Norr were in Springfield April 17 for a statewide, town hall forum hosted by Students for a Sustainable Future and Focus the Nation, a national organization.
The town hall forum's theme was "seizing the opportunities of the new energy economy - together."
Lindsey Berger, the president of SSF, said the group's goal was to reach elected officials and continue the dialogue to transition Missouri's energy future into clean, renewable sources.
"We care deeply about the future and the future of others to come," said Randy Downs, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University who helped organize the event.
Dan Chiles, a Springfield city councilman, began the forum with an introductory PowerPoint.
He said the question "What are you willing to do?" is more important than "What have you done?"
Chiles proposed six questions to the town hall attendees in his presentation: Can you use less oil? Can you grow food? Can we rebuild America? Can we waste less? Can we travel better? Can you spend less and make more?
After the introductory presentation, energy leaders and student activists gave testimonies.
Art Boyt, the chief technical officer at SolSource Teknologi and a professor emeritus at the MARET Center, spoke about energy strategies that can be combined to reduce energy cost and sustain economic growth.
"The bottom line is that the end-use cost, not the energy-unit cost, determines the success of a strategy," Boyt said.
He said these efficiency strategies can create significant, long-term opportunities.
Josh Jones, a student organizer who worked on Renew MO, also gave a testimonial.
Renew MO was the driving force for the Proposition-C campaign. In November, 66 percent of Missouri voters voted for Proposition C, a renewable energy standard that would work to ensure that by 2021, 15 percent of Missouri's energy would come from clean, renewable resources.
The town hall forum's theme was "seizing the opportunities of the new energy economy - together."
Lindsey Berger, the president of SSF, said the group's goal was to reach elected officials and continue the dialogue to transition Missouri's energy future into clean, renewable sources.
"We care deeply about the future and the future of others to come," said Randy Downs, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University who helped organize the event.
Dan Chiles, a Springfield city councilman, began the forum with an introductory PowerPoint.
He said the question "What are you willing to do?" is more important than "What have you done?"
Chiles proposed six questions to the town hall attendees in his presentation: Can you use less oil? Can you grow food? Can we rebuild America? Can we waste less? Can we travel better? Can you spend less and make more?
After the introductory presentation, energy leaders and student activists gave testimonies.
Art Boyt, the chief technical officer at SolSource Teknologi and a professor emeritus at the MARET Center, spoke about energy strategies that can be combined to reduce energy cost and sustain economic growth.
"The bottom line is that the end-use cost, not the energy-unit cost, determines the success of a strategy," Boyt said.
He said these efficiency strategies can create significant, long-term opportunities.
Josh Jones, a student organizer who worked on Renew MO, also gave a testimonial.
Renew MO was the driving force for the Proposition-C campaign. In November, 66 percent of Missouri voters voted for Proposition C, a renewable energy standard that would work to ensure that by 2021, 15 percent of Missouri's energy would come from clean, renewable resources.
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