With trains rumbling down the tracks nearby, 25 people gathered at The Depot in Wadena March 15th to learn about clean energy projects gaining steam in communities across the region.
Central CERT Coordinator Sarah Hayden kicked things off by updating folks about recently funded Seed Grants and upcoming Solar Power Hours. Two speakers then gave lightning talks: Josh Mason with Detroit Lakes Public Utilities talked about their work on a new Community Solar Garden and Ryan Pesch with University of Minnesota Extension talked about saving energy with Deep Winter Greenhouses.
The rest of the day was focused on topics and themes that came up during conversation: community solar gardens, solar in general, energy efficiency and clean energy connected with food and agriculture. With a group that included five utility partners, two mayors, five Extension staff, renewable energy installers, farmers, small businesses, and homeowners, the conversations were fast, furious, and fun.
Snippets included:
- Camp Ripley is working on a 10 MW solar site and has just finished clearing and preparing the project site. They also hope to have pollinators growing and will work with local schools to create education opportunities.
- Detroit Lakes Public Utilities hopes to have 48 panels in their community solar garden. They are building the garden for two main reasons: First, customers are asking for it and second, The utility staff can learn from the experience of installing the system.
- Crow Wing Power Cooperative has estimated saving 1.4 Million kWhs over the last year with their Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) energy efficiency projects.
- The Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership is accepting Idea Briefs until April 1st.
- A board member from Deep Portage Learning Center highlighted the wide range of renewable energy technologies they are using.
“We had a great day with people sharing the work that they are doing around energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Sarah Hayden, Central CERT Coordinator. “It was wonderful to see such a varied group working together on such a variety of projects.”
Watch Lakeland Public TV’s 10pm newscast about the event:
See photos from the event:
