College to Present Forum on Renewable Energy
in Nebraska for Earth Day

Wayne State College will present a public forum on renewable energy in Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. April 22 in the Niobrara Room of the WSC Student Center.  The renewable energy forum at WSC is part of the college’s annual Earth Day activities.

The public is invited to attend and submit questions for discussion by panel members Robert Byrnes from Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems; David Becker, Operations Project Manager of the Gavins Point Project; John Richards, Engineer, Nebraska Public Power District; Wesley Slaymaker, Vice President of Business Development, EcoEnergy, Madison, Wis.; Gene Hansen, Production Superintendent, City of Wayne; and Wyatt Fraas, Assistant Director of the Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program at the Center for Rural Affairs.

The forum will be moderated by Dr. Barbara Hayford, Assistant Professor of Life Science and Director of the A. Jewell Schock Museum of Natural History at WSC. It will be followed by a music and dessert reception. The forum will also include a noon presentation on wind energy by Professor William Slaymaker (Elkhorn Room, Student Center), an Energy Fair (1 to 6 p.m., Elkhorn Room, Student Center), a running and bicycling event along the Wayne Bike Path from 3 to 5 p.m., and a 5 p.m. cookout sponsored by the WSC Biology Club (Willow Bowl).

Renewable energy is energy that can be naturally replenished and generated from sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat.  Often criticized for cost that is still relatively high as compared to traditional ways of generating energy, increasing governmental support is driving renewable energy legislation, research, incentives, and commercialization.