NEWS

SGF moves forward on landfill-powered greenhouse

Stephen Herzog
SHERZOG@NEWS-LEADER.COM

The city of Springfield has started its search for a partner on a 4- to 8-acre greenhouse that would be powered by the landfill and produce 4 million pounds of produce each year.

A renewable energy commercial greenhouse could cover 4 acres and produce about 4 million pounds of produce a year. This drawing shows what the greenhouse could look like.

The city issued a request for proposals and qualification Friday, seeking a partner with experience in the greenhouse business.

The document says the city wants an organization that can "provide locally grown, fresh, preferably organic produce for local and regional markets that reduces the region's dependency on imported products."

The request lists three other primary goals, including that the partner provide educational opportunities for local colleges and the community; that it provide a source of food for pantries; and that it provide opportunities by recruiting Springfield partners or businesses as part of the proposal.

The city expects the greenhouse would be 4-to-8 acres in size, powered by heat from the Noble Hill Landfill Renewable Energy Center. Noble Hill converts methane gas from the landfill into electricity and produces heat as part of that process.

As part of its initial feasibility study, the city discovered that more than 95 percent of fresh produce consumed in the Springfield area is from outside Missouri. Because of that, the city does not expect that the greenhouse would compete with any local companies.

"There are no known local commercial greenhouses growing fresh foodstuffs in our region that will be harmed by this initiative," the request says.

Encouraging the greenhouse operator to donate to local food banks is important to city officials.

City Manager Greg Burris, in a previous discussion about the potential greenhouse, said the project's timing is important as the city continues its Zone Blitz, to help residents in northwest Springfield, and the local Impacting Poverty Commission continues its broader effort to fight poverty.

The proposals that potential partners submit must outline their qualifications and experiences with similar projects. It must also explain how the project would create jobs, the terms of the property lease, a development schedule, ongoing management and financing plans.

The greenhouse would be located next to the Noble Hill Landfill Renewable Energy Center, which is north of Springfield on the west side of Kansas Expressway.

This initial round of proposals is open until April 29.