Clean Energy Resource Teams

At the request of its affiliate Shoreview Sierra Club Green Community, Metro CERTs hosted an energy contest and two workshops at SummerHouse, a 72 unit senior living facility in Shoreview, Minnesota that is owned and operated by Presbyterian Homes. The leadership and enthusiasm shown by resident Betty Schaefer and the cooperation and follow-through by the Property Manager Bill Callen were key to the SummerHouse project’s success.

In Fall 2001, the Pipestone-Jasper School District, perfectly sited on Minnesota’s Buffalo Ridge, was awarded one of Xcel Energy’s RDF grants to construct a wind turbine. They harnessed the power of the wind to supply some of their energy needs, and built the wind turbine into their environmental science curriculum.

In the Fall of 2002, two of the first farmer-owned wind projects in Minnesota went online in Rock County. Minwind I and II each consist of two 950 kW turbines. Mark Willers: “We wanted a farmer-owned project that would bring economic development, get farmers a return on their investment, and could use local businesses and contractors to do the work.”

Moorhead is home to two 750 kW wind turbines, Sephyr and Freedome. Moorhead Public Service’s Capture the Wind program has garnered national attention for its energy program innovation, high levels of participation, and low premium rates.

Minnesota Power’s Solar Sense program has not only participated in 13 solar installations since last May. They also have created a training program for installing and inspecting grid-connected solar photovoltaic electric systems.

After an extensive capital campaign the Hartley Nature Center’s brand new Interpretive Center opened summer of 2003. The Interpretive Center incorporates the use of green technologies in the construction and size selection.

Voyageurs National Park began its biodiesel program in September 2000 as part of a Department of Energy pilot program.

The City of Brooklyn Park didn’t wait around for a biodiesel mandate. When members of the National Association of Fleet Administrators started talking in 1998 about alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.

District Energy St. Paul, Inc., is a private, non-profit community-based corporation located in downtown St. Paul. District Energy owns the largest hot water district heating system in North America in addition to a rapidly expanding district cooling system.

Science House, a four-season, 1,200-square-foot building located in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s 1.2-acre outdoor science park, The Big Backyard, will operate as a public laboratory, classroom, exhibit area, or a special events space for the park. It is designed to be a zero-emissions building.