http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/oneconfere_7419.mp3
The Ozarks New Energy Conference is underway. People have come from all across the Midwest to find out how the Ozarks region is going green. KSMU’s Ryan Welch was there and has this report.
Reporter Standup: “I’m here at the Ozarks New Energy Conference, and as I look around at many of the booths and displays, many of the presenters are just filled with excitement as they show the community and the public at large how to take our world in a new direction.”
Dohrenwend: “We’re considering geothermal [heating] for our house, and some other things.”
Welch: “So you’re learning?”
Dohrenwend: “Yes, I’m definitely. Even as a participant, presenter, or somebody manning a booth or something like that, I’m getting a chance to learn.”
That’s Mark Dohrenwend, an engineer for Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline. He was amazed at the wealth of knowledge being spread at the conference, from citizens near and far.
The mayor of Greensburg, Kansas, is also at the conference. His name is Bob Dixon. Greensburg is about 100 miles west of Wichita in south central Kansas. Dixon told us this story:
“On May 4th of 2007, at 9:45 at night, 95% of our community was leveled by an EF-5 tornado. And in the midst of that process, we decided as a community we wanted to rebuild a sustainable, and as green as we can—build structures, business, commercial, resident[ial], and municipal buildings that would be there for a lifetime for future generations,” said Dixon.
At the time the tornado hit, his town had a population of 1,500 people. He said to make such a big change in his community, one thing the citizens of Greensburg have done is to alter their mindset. They used to look at “going green” with a negative outlook, but have come to realize that being green and sustainable is simply being good keepers of the resources they have. Dixon says they can do this by using modern technology to their benefit.
“We would not wish this disaster on any community in the United States, or across the world. And in the midst of what we’re doing, is not reinvent the wheel, it’s just doing what’s right, prudent, and responsible,” said Dixon.
To go green at home here in Springfield, Dr. Andy Cline, associate professor of journalism at Missouri State University, suggests walking or biking…or as he calls it, going “car-lite.”
“My advice, when people ask, ‘Well gee whiz, maybe I’d like to bike and walk, too, how do I do that?’ Move. Move closer to your work, move closer to an urban core, move closer to the things you want and need,” said Cline.
He does say, however, that you don’t have to move somewhere you’d feel uncomfortable.
“It means identifying those places that you travel to most, and trying to find yourself a situation comfortably placed so that walking and bicycling becomes an option,” said Cline.
The conference comes to an end at 5:00 Friday. You can go to ksmu.org for more information.
For KSMU News, I’m Ryan Welch.
LINKS:carbontrace.net