You probably never heard of the town Edwardsville, Alabama. With a population of 194, no one can blame you.  However, this small…tiny…microscopic town is looking to receive a chunk of President Obama’s economic stimulus package to transform itself into the sustainability oasis of Alabama.

Edwardsville has been taken over by green fever.  2/3 of their proposals at the U.S. Conference of Mayors involved green ideas for “ready-to-go projects”  Some of these ideas include:  a renewable energy museum, scenic railroads, solar energy for public utilities and vineyards.  The overarching idea is to turn their town into a cutting-edge demonstration project for energy sustainability on the way to becoming a tourism hub.  The big question is how much of the stimulus package is the town seeking.  A cool $375,000,000.  Some quick math will reveal that equals out to almost $2,000,000 per resident.  This plan has been in the works before Obama even announced his run for the presidency however.  Spurred by a growing debate as to whether renewable energy will trigger a rural renaissance, the town started to form a strategy to pull it’s citizens out of poverty nearly two years ago.

Critics can say what they wish, but Edwardsville knows that small towns with low tax bases are apt to financial downfall without federal help.  Instead of just asking for a handout, the citizens would like to become a template for other small towns and rural areas.