FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In recognition of City Utilities’ outstanding commitment to renewable energy, Mayor Ken McClure has proclaimed July 27, 2017 to be Focus on Renewable Energy Day. McClure, unable to present the proclamation in person, offered his congratulations via a video played at the Board of Public Utilities' 3 p.m. meeting Thursday.
At a July 20 joint meeting of City Council and CU, CU staff reported that the utility’s use of renewable energy sources has quadrupled in recent years, thanks to solar farms in Nixa and north of Springfield and wind farms in Oklahoma and Kansas. Steve Stodden, associate general manager, predicted that 2017 will end with approximately 30 percent of CU’s power generated from renewable energy sources. In 2014, that number was 8 percent, Stodden said.
“I was fortunate to attend a joint City Council – City Utilities meeting last week where utility staff briefed both the City Council and the Board of Public Utilities on some of the recent successes and challenges of the utility. It made me pause to think about a few things,” McClure said in the video.
“First, let me congratulate City Utilities on the outstanding progress made by the utility on the ever-growing percentage of our energy being generated by renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources have minimal impact upon the environment and City Utilities has done a great job of harnessing the more commonly known renewable energy sources of wind and solar. The fact that they are naturally produced, have low operational costs, and produce electricity without emissions, make these energy sources a benefit to our entire community.
“We are thankful that City Utilities has a substantial percentage of its portfolio provided by such sources and that City Utilities continues to provide the possible power sources at a reasonable price. City Utilities is an unquestioned leader, not only within the Southwest Power Pool, but especially when compared to other utilities within Missouri.
“I encourage you to continue to utilize these renewable energy sources, as practical, and seek to build upon the level of green power our residents can enjoy and afford, keeping in mind the Utility’s commitment to providing our community with safe, adequate, and affordable power.
“I regret that I am not able to attend today’s board meeting to present this to you in person, but I wanted to share with you, nonetheless, this proclamation, congratulating City Utilities for an outstanding commitment to renewable energy. Thank you, board members and staff, for all you do to make this a great community.”
The proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, Springfield deserves safe, clean, affordable, and reliable energy; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 2000, City Utilities began working to harness the wind to provide electricity and today that endeavor creates over 200 megawatts, or enough clean, renewable energy for nearly 70,000 Springfield homes; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, City Utilities and the City of Springfield joined together to collect and use methane gas produced, from trash at the City’s landfill, to produce 3.2 megawatts of electricity—enough electricity for over 2,500 Springfield homes; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, City Utilities added solar energy to its portfolio with the completion of City Utilities’ Solar Farm, the largest solar farm in Missouri at that time, consisting of 22,000 solar panels—enough to provide electricity to 900 Springfield homes; and
WHEREAS, in 2017 City Utilities began a pilot project studying the possibilities of supplementing our City’s electricity during peak demands from a utility-scale energy storage system; and
WHEREAS, City Utilities has increased its renewable energy sources portfolio from ten percent to approximately thirty-five percent today, positioning City Utilities among the industry leaders; and
WHEREAS, Springfield enjoys energy rates among the most affordable in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield commends City Utilities for providing affordable energy and encourages it to focus on building and maintaining a robust portfolio of affordable and renewable energy sources capable of providing energy which is good for our environment and future generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ken McClure, Mayor of the City of Springfield, Missouri, do hereby proclaim Thursday, July 27, 2017 to be
FOCUS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY DAY
in recognition of City Utilities’ efforts in leading the way for utilities across Missouri and the Midwest in the use of renewable energy resources, and encourage all citizens to be good stewards of our environment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the official seal of the City of Springfield, Missouri, to be affixed this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord, two thousand seventeen.
