EPA Region 7 honored the City of Springfield, Mo., and City Utilities of Springfield for their efforts to protect air quality in the Springfield region.

EPA representative Amy Bhesania (right in photo) presented Blue Skyways Collaborative Partnership Awards to Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson (center) and City Utilities General Manager John Twitty at the Springfield/Greene County "Choose Environmental Excellence" luncheon recently.

Springfield and City Utilities completed the Noble Hill Landfill Gas-to-Energy project in May 2006. The project recovers methane gas from the landfill to produce enough energy to power 2,600 homes.