Deep Portage, a nonprofit Environmental Learning Center located near Hackensack, Minnesota, has a powerful story to tell of how they are building a sustainable energy future in Central Minnesota.
Clean energy work has made Deep Portage stand out as a leader in energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. In 2011 Deep Portage turned on its first solar electric array with a rated capacity of 8 kW and a 10 kW wind turbine. By the end of 2015 Deep Portage had expanded its electricity clean energy from the original 18 kW to 58 kW, which has resulted in clean electric power generation rising from 5,755 kWh in 2011 to 57,284 kWh in 2015. In addition, Deep Portage purchases green credits valued at 226,800 kWh annually of clean energy. In 2015, through its own renewable energy production and purchase of green credits, 100% of Deep Portage’s electric energy was green and it contributed to the grid an additional 61,810 kWh of clean energy. Deep Portage also uses a wood gasification system that is rated at 500,000 BTU/hr. All of this clean energy was also easy on the pocket book: Deep Portage saved $36,500 on energy costs in 2015.
Consistent with its mission to bring together community, education, and the environment, Deep Portage has committed itself as much as reasonably possible to obtain the materials, labor, and supplies for its conservation and sustainable energy initiatives from local sources, thereby providing jobs, supporting local families and businesses, and contributing to county, school district, and township revenues.
Want to learn more and get the nitty, gritty details? Download this case study from Deep Portage about their clean energy work.
See photos from a CERTs tour of Deep Portage:
Related Stories:
- Paying attention vs. Paying bills: Getting to 100% renewable energy at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center
- An eight-year journey with renewables, conservation, and efficiency at Audubon Center of the North Woods
