Macon 's New Hybrid Garbage Truck

The City of Macon is now home to the country's first, "green" garbage truck. Mayor Robert Reichert posed with the city's newest vehicle. In this time of cutbacks he's happy to show off the hybrid electric garbage truck that begins collecting trash this week.
The city is partnering with Robins Air Force Base which already has a fleet of hybrid trucks. Charise Stephens is with the Clean Cities Coalition. The helped organize the partnership. She says the implications for cities everywhere are far reaching.

"We have a lot of light duty hybrids and in this application can you imagine the emission reductions for a heavy duty? How many municipalities have public works departments."

Macon is the very first city in the United States to have the hybrid garbage truck. Stephens says the city was chosen because of its early commitment to using bio fuels in city vehicles.

Georgia's first corn ethanol plant opens

After three years and 185-million dollars in investments, Georgia's first corn ethanol plant is open for business in Camilla.
On Friday the plant began grinding corn. This is the first step in producing the alternative fuel. By the end of the week the plant should have full-flowing ethanol.
First United Ethanol says the plant will produce around 100-million gallons a year. More than 850 investors, many of them from Southwest Georgia, helped fund the project according to the company's Alicia Shirah.

"One of their main goals was to bring about economic stimulus to this area. What they have seen out in the Midwest are these facilities coming in and really generating an economic boost for rural towns such as Camilla."

The plant is the only facility of its size in the Southeast. Much of the corn will be supplied by Georgia farmers. The rest will be brought in from the Midwest. The plant employs 55 people.