Life Of Jason

The Ozarks New Energy Conference is going to be happening in Springfield on Friday and Saturday February 22nd and 23rd at the Gillioz Theatre. Many dignitaries are scheduled to be there including Rep. Roy Blunt, Sen. Claire McCaskill and Springfield City Councilman Dan Chiles. If it wasn’t $75 to get in I’d go over and let you in on some of the festivities but since I use old energy at my house I have to pay my CU bill this month!

I don’t know how much Rep. Blunt and Sen. McCaskill will be talking to the media during their time in town but if they have press conferences I’ll try to get to them. (I called Rep. Blunt’s local office and was curtly and quickly told that they didn’t believe there would be time for something like that and I haven’t heard back from Sen. McCaskill’s office yet. I’ll update this post when I do.)

Here’s the conference’s press release with all the information in case you want to attend:

What does the future hold for alternative fuels and new energy technologies? Home owners, farmers, business people, investors, environmentalists, policy makers and voters, educators and students can learn about promising research and current applications at the Ozarks New Energy Conference Feb. 22-23 at the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield, Mo.

The conference, which promotes energy independence, job growth in the Ozarks and environmental stewardship, also will include an “Alternative Car Show: New Fuels for Your Wheels,” featuring vehicles powered by hydrogen, solar and vegetable oil. A “Human Electric Power” demonstration will show how much electricity bicyclists can generate. Details about the conference are at www.ozarksnewenergy.org . Registrations at $75 per person are accepted online or at 417-581-0745.

Here’s what selected groups will find of interest:

Home owners can learn from local contractors and exhibitors about solar and wind technologies being installed in homes in the Ozarks right now. Other speakers will demonstrate the difference energy efficiency can make in utility bills.

Ozarks farmers can learn from some of the country’s most respected biomass and biofuels researchers and developers about opportunities to increase their income. Growing biomass and turning waste organic material into biomass will be explored at the conference.

Policy makers and voters can hear from Congressman Roy Blunt, Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri Public Service Commission Chair Jeff Davis and City Councilman Dan Chiles about energy policy and initiatives at the local, state and federal levels.

Businesses and investors can learn about research and development costs, opportunities for new investment and the hard costs of applying wind, solar and biomass technologies. Speakers of interest include Marc Wagoner of Praj Schneider, Inc.; Bob Schultheis of University of Missouri Extension; Phillip Badger of General Bioenergy, Inc.; and Jack Lewnard of the Gas Technology Institute.

Environmentalists can learn about the environmental impact on air, water and land of current and future new fuels.

Educators and students, particularly in the applied sciences, agriculture and environmental studies, will have access to nationally recognized scholars and researchers, including Dr. Paul Risser, University of Oklahoma; Dr. David Bransby, Auburn University; Dr. John Ikerd and Dr. William Casady, University of Missouri; Dr. Krishna Krishnamurthy and Dr. Paul Nam, Missouri University of Science and Technology; and Dr. Keesoo Lee, Lincoln University.

Students may attend some sessions free, if they register, or can attend the full conference at a discounted fee of $35.

The conference is sponsored by the City of Springfield, City Utilities of Springfield, Drury University, Empire District Electric, Greene County, Killian Construction, Missouri State University, Oakridge Consulting, Steelman Transportation, Watts Radiant and Wal-Mart.