Town hall meeting to address energy concerns

Chad Lacey

It seems like gas, gas prices and alternative energy are the topics of choice during days of $3/gal gasoline. In an effort to inform the public on the nation’s current and future energy issues, Conoco66 – Phillips76, Washburn University, the University of Kansas Energy Council and Kansas State University Center for Sustainable Energy have scheduled at townhall meeting Thursday, Oct. 4, to share information about the future sources of energy – wind, water, sun, oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear and biomass. These conversations on energy have been implemented because of the lack of public knowledge about the fuel and other energy sources that are effecting the world.

The American Petroleum Institute has conducted a survey to see how much the population knows about the oil and energy industry. It turns out that most of America is uneducated about the subject and only 10 percent of the population knew, who the United States’ chief oil supplier was, Canada. Sixty percent of the population thought it was Saudi Arabia. In response to these results, Conoco66 – Phillips76 has scheduled 35 stops around the nation to hold conversations on energy with students and the public to raise awareness.

When Washburn students were asked who the nation’s leading oil supplier was only two students out of 30 answered correctly. Fourteen Washburn students thought oil came from the middle east exclusively.

Conoco66 – Phillips76 is striving to have the answer for future energy problems facing our world. This conversation on energy will be held at the Kansas History Museum 6425 S.W. Sixth Ave., with guest registration beginning 6:30 p.m. and the townhall meeting following from 7 to 8:30 p.m. To reserve a seat today call (800) 877-5917 or visit www.conocophillips.com/energy/RSVP, registration for seats closes at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3.