January 25, Solar and Wind Energy Provider to Speak at Sustainable Springfield's Meeting: Have you ever wondered about the possibility of solar or wind devices to provide power for your home or business? Learn the answers from an experienced and proven alternative energy provider, Mark Bauer, who will speak at Sustainable Springfield Inc's next public meeting, Monday January 25.

Bauer is the CEO of Bauer Power that is one of the Midwest's largestcommercial and residential providers and installers of renewable energy products & services since 2004. The company specializes in solar and wind generated electrical power, solar water heating, and solar pool heating. Based in western Michigan, Bauer Power has installations across the Midwest and has a branch facility in the Peoria area with another planned for St. Louis.

The meeting will take place at 7:00 p. m at the Prairie Heart Institute's Dove Center, Sixth and Mason Streets is free and open to the public.

January 26, 2010 Red Rock Wilderness Act with Clayton Daughenbaugh:
At Sangamon Valley Sierra Club Group Meeting. Utah's red rock country is one of our nation's most magnificent wild landscapes, dominated by towering buttes, red sandstone plateaus and deep, winding canyons. Unfortunately this wonderful land is at great
risk from oil and gas exploration and rampant abuse by off-roadvehicles, which destroy vegetation and leave tracks that can last for a generation in the fragile desert ecosystem. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Library.

February 8, 7th Annual Composting Symposium: Backyard, Business, and Beyond: Keynote Speaker: Ken Dunn, The Resource Center, "Composting for a Sustainable Future"This is the seventh composting symposium to be held in Illinois. The symposium is a forum for sharing composting, stimulating the composting market, and bringing composters, educators and business people together so that everyone can benefit from learning about this excellent organic soil amendment.

The symposium is will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about composting organic materials from national and local experts. The symposium will cover topics ranging from backyard composting for beginners to large scale projects for municipalities or farms. The symposium is open to the public. Educators, farmers, gardeners, and entrepreneurs are all encouraged to attend, there will be something for everyone.

Following the sysmposium there will be a vermiculture build you own bin (BYOB) workshop where participants will have the opportunity to learn more about vermiculture and build their own bin suitable for the home or office. 12:30-6:30pm University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit, Springfield, IL. For brochure click here. Register Online at: www.extension.uiuc.edu/sangamon

March 2nd, Proposed Wind Farm for Western Sangamon County: Sustainable Springfield Public meeting featuring Christopher Nickell, American Wind Energy, Springfield Office, Dove Center, 7:00pm