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Biodiesel shines at 2012 Twin Cities Auto Show with 16 vehicles on display

Among the shiny new cars and trucks on display at the recent 2012 Twin Cities Auto Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center was a new exhibit, the Biodiesel Green Room.

Six Minnesota Power case studies about energy-saving programs for schools and homeowners

Over the last couple of years, Minnesota Power has been compiling several energy efficiency success stories under the headings Learn & Earn and Save & Benefit, and we’re taking this opportunity to share them! Read below to learn more about these exciting projects.

Extending Growing Seasons in Cold Climates: Greenhouses Powered by Clean Energy

03/20/2012

Many places in Minnesota have found a way to extend the warm growing season into the colder winter months. This isn’t that surprising, greenhouses have been around, by some accounts, since the time of the Roman Emperors, and their objective remains the same: providing fresh, local produce for people to enjoy at any time of the year.

Drive Electric Minnesota partnership charged up, rolling, and welcoming newcomers

Drive Electric Minnesota is a partnership of local and state government, our largest utility, private business and nonprofit entities working in collaboration to bring electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in charging infrastructure to Minnesota. We spoke with Fran Crotty at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to learn more. Joel Haskard: Tell us a little bit about Drive Electric Minnesota.

Minnesota CARD Grant Program aims to make energy efficiency programs more effective

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources seeks proposals from organizations and individuals interested in receiving a Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grant.

Savvy, young eco-geeks want to work for you: GreenCorps program seeks hosts

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now accepting applications for organizations interested in participating as a Host Site for the 2012-2013 year of the Minnesota GreenCorps program.

Solar-powered car charging stations to grace St. Paul's Como Park

Original Star Tribune story by Rochelle Olson.

Witness the harnessing of the mighty power of the sun at St. Paul’s Como Park. The city is set to fire up two solar-powered electric car charging stations at Como Lake and the nearby McMurray Fields. The official opening is expected within a couple of weeks.

The sites are the latest in St.

OPOWER: Feedback and norming for energy savings in Minnesota

In 2007, bringing together the call to save energy and research on social psychology and behavior change, OPOWER launched a utility customer engagement platform that revolutionizes the way the average consumer relates to their energy bill.

Bush Fellowship Program the perfect opportunity to improve your leadership practice and community

The Bush Fellowship is an opportunity for individuals to increase their capacity for and improve their practice of leadership while working with others to solve tough problems in their communities.

The Bush Foundation is currently accepting applications for new fellows from all over Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Growing a solar-powered tree business in Central MN: Interview with Snowy Pines Reforestation

Based in Browerville, Minnesota, Snowy Pines Reforestation is a family-owned and operated business with the mission “to create meaningful, rewarding work for our family and friends that improves the natural environment.” Greg Nolan and his family manage a 40-acre forest and have planted over three million trees. They specialize in tree planting, salvage logging, and wood flooring.

Energy savings in the spotlight: Lighting retrofits of Slayton businesses featured in new documentary

A Minnesota-based film production company documented twelve businesses on main street in Slayton, Minnesota as they retrofitted or replaced their current lighting through Xcel Energy’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop program.

99 residents pack solar workshop in Woodbury, learn from expert and solar owners

99 residents packed the Woodbury City Council Chambers for a SolarWorks workshop on March 1st, which was co-sponsored by the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team and the Woodbury Environmental Advisory Commission.

Powering the plains: New 30 MW wind farm planned for Nobles County, MN

The original Worthington Daily Globe story by Julie Buntjer appeared on March 5, 2012.

More than two dozen people attended a public hearing Monday afternoon in Reading to hear more about a planned 30.75 megawatt wind farm in portions of Summit Lake and Larkin townships in Nobles County in Minnesota.

Clean energy is the ultimate payback for Minneapolis solar pioneer Brian Ross and his family

Brian Ross, a Minneapolis resident and urban planner who was an early adopter of solar energy, says the reward of solar for his family is that it provides free, clean energy that they can use to power their home, independent of uncertain oil and gas prices.

Lakefront getaway rebuilt for energy efficiency and comfort: New Horizon Resort & Lodge

My wife and I bought the New Horizon Resort & Lodge in the spring of 2003. We realized when we bought the resort that the buildings were old and needed a lot of work. The Lodge/Restaurant building was built in 1919, the cabins were added from the late 1930s to the 1950s.

Juhl Wind announces launch of solar and small wind subsidiary serving farms, businesses, residents

Juhl Wind just announced a newly formed subsidiary, Juhl Renewable Energy Systems (JRES), to meet the market needs for smaller scale wind and solar systems business. JRES is focused on the sales and installation of Juhl’s on-site renewable energy systems.

JRES handles projects from start to finish, including design, sales, financing and service.

Tapping in to RETAP is a great way to reduce energy costs: An interview with key players

The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide environmental facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to Minnesota’s businesses, institutions, and communities. Services are provided at no cost to clients.

Producing renewable energy while sequestering carbon dioxide: A new approach to geothermal

A University of Minnesota earth sciences professor and a postdoctoral fellow in his work group have imagined a new process for generating electricity with a two-for-one climate benefit.

Solar is powering adventure and stewardship at Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely

The Piragis Northwoods Company of Ely, MN is a prominent clean-energy model in a community with a strong tradition of environmental stewardship. Piragis took advantage of state rebates to install solar electric and solar hot water systems in its store. This allows them to independently generate a lot of their own power and supply all the hot water they use to serve their customers.

Faribault farmer and tinkerer embraces clean energy with home-built wind and solar

This Faribault Daily News article by Joseph Lindberg was originally published on Wed, 10/26/2011.

To most, old windmill towers and piles of scrap angle-iron are nothing but junk. But a Cannon City Township man sees those cast-away pieces for their true potential: year-round energy-producing machines. Gerald Bauer’s backyard is a mecca of renewable energy engineering.

Could waste heat in sewers heat buildings? Untapped energy flowing under Brainerd

When we think of new sources of energy, we often look up at the sun or the wind. But some people decided to try looking down instead. Underground. In the sewers of Brainerd. A study, financed by a state grant and carried out by Hidden Fuels of Brainerd, shows that energy available to cool and heat homes and public buildings in Brainerd flows through the sanitary system every day.

Sharing the love for clean energy in West Central: highlighting projects, networking

Over forty people gathered on Valentine’s Day at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center for a West Central CERT networking event to share their love for clean energy, get to know each other better, and talk about past and future projects in the region.

Solar project a 'dream fulfilled' for Woodbury homeowner Kerry Smith

Kerry Smith and his wife Julie, moved to Minnesota from Texas in November 2010 in the midst of a snowstorm. Julie had taken a job at 3M and they quickly found a house (they looked at 23 houses in 1 day!) and settled into a new life in Woodbury. Kerry is a retired “ee” (electrical engineer) who had worked previously in the Telecom Industry.

Wow, Minnesota has some darn energy-efficient schools!

Through the ENERGY STAR Leaders program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes organizations for energy efficiency achievements across their entire portfolio of commercial buildings.

Exciting solar incentives launched by Minnesota Power shine light on new opportunities

If you live in Minnesota Power’s service territory, installing solar on your home, business or even non-profit just got a lot more affordable! Minnesota Power announced a robust package of solar incentives on February 21st that could pay up to 60% of new solar electrical systems for homeowners and businesses.

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