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Contact: Renee Graham, Public Communications Officer - (573) 874-7316

U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Award Program recognizes Columbia’s Biogas Energy Plant with Outstanding Achievement Award during U.S. Conference of Mayors National Conference

COLUMBIA, MO (July 2, 2008) - Columbia’s investment in a biogas energy plant was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award during the 2008 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards ceremony. Mayor Darwin Hindman accepted the award Friday, June 20, at the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s annual meeting in Miami, Fla.

Sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards recognize and honor mayors and communities who are leading efforts to curb global warming and increase energy efficiency. A panel of judges evaluated over 60 applications on the following criteria: mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and/or improved quality of life.

Columbia received an Outstanding Achievement Award in the “energy source” category for small cities. The biogas energy plant reduces greenhouse emissions and plays an important role in achieving the public mandate that calls for the city’s energy portfolio to include renewable sources.

Dedicated in December 2007, the plant uses methane and other landfill gases to generate electricity. The plant can produce enough electricity to power 1,500 homes in Columbia. As landfill gas volumes increase, biogas energy is expected to supply 2.5 percent of the community’s power needs.

“This plant provides a complete recycling loop. The trash that citizens leave on the curb is literally returned to them in the form of electricity,” says Hindman.

City Manager Bill Watkins credits the citizens of Columbia for supporting the plant, which was part of a $60 million bond issue that passed in 2006 with an 86 percent favorable vote. According to Watkins, the plant was estimated to cost $3 million, but the Public Works and Water and Light departments collaborated to build the project for $2.85 million.

“Our citizens made an important investment in Columbia’s future. I’m pleased that our utility departments honored that investment by bringing the project in on time and under budget,” says Watkins.

Outstanding Achievement awards in other categories were presented to Chapel Hill, N.C.; Highland Park, Ill.; and Orland Park, Ill. The overall first place honor in the small city category went to Carmel, Ind. for that city’s efforts to install environmentally-friendly roundabouts that smooth traffic flow while providing extra safety benefits and cost savings.

For more information on the Biogas Energy Plant, contact Connie Kacprowicz, Columbia Water and Light, at 874-7330. Columbia landfill questions can be directed to Public Works’ Solid Waste Utility Manager Richard Wieman at 874-6290. Information about the Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards can be found online at www.usmayors.org.

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