Geothermal Greenhouse Tour

 Whitewater Gardens will be hosting a an open house/tour of its geothermal winter production greenhouse and packing/storage shed. The tour will offer participants a chance to see the greenhouse in operation. For details, email Sandy and Lonny Dietz, or call 507-932-5225.

Location:  Whitewater Gardens (17485 Calico Hill Rd), Altura, MN

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Date: May 13, 2010

The tour is being co-sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project and Southeast CERT Whitewater Gardens is the recipient of a  $5000 CERTS seed grant for its geothermal installation.

Think Green Fair Invites Exhibitors

The 2010 Think Green Fair will take place from 10am-9pm on June 26th, 2010 at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds, Graham Park. Join us for this full full day celebration of green living and sustainability in southern Minnesota!

What is Thinking Green? Thinking green means learning to live in a way that will reduce your impact on the environment, improve your quality of life, and save you money. Thinking Green is about coming together with neighborhoods, communities, organizations, and businesses to ensure that the choices we make today will not compromise the quality of life for future generations.

The fair will include a green expo, workshops, speakers, musical entertainment, local food, artisans and children’s activities providing you the opportunity to think green in all aspects of your life. The goal of the fair is to educate attendees in the areas of:

Efficiency/Renewable energy
Conservation/Protection of water and/or air
Earth friendly home and garden products
Waste reduction
Durable/Reusable products
Natural or locally produced foods (free-range, pesticide-free)
Green certification (USDA Organic, Energy Star, Fair Trade, LEED, other)
Health and Wellness
Promotion of environmental values

If your environmental business or organization would like to be a vendor or sponsor, find details at http://www.rneighbors.org/?page_id=30

USDA Rural Development to hold information sessions on

Farmers and rural small business owners interested in purchasing and installing renewable energy systems or making energy efficiency improvements are invited to attend one of three meetings, each with:

Morning session 9:30 – 11:30 AM for farmers

Afternoon session 1 – 3 PM for small business owners

Meeting Dates and Locations:

March 2, St. Charles City Hall
March 3, Waseca Co. Courthouse Annex
March 4, Cannon Falls City Hall

The REAP Program has grants, loan guarantees, and grant/loan combinations available to purchase and install renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements on farms and small businesses. Examples of eligibl eporjects include grain dryers, geo-thermal heating, wind turbines, solar energy, upgraded refrigeration, and other efficeiency upgrades.

REAP Program details can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn/rbs.htm
Rural Development specialist Naomi Lenz will lead each session. Contact Naomi for more information at (507)437-8247 ext. 154 or naomi.lenz@mn.usda.gov

MN GreenStep Cities Workshop in Austin

On February 24, 2010, The Izaak Walton League (Minnesota Division and Austin chapter) and Austin Coalition for Environmental Sustainability are hosting a MN GreenStep Cities Workshop, an action plan for cities, counties and their citizens to reduce greenhouse gases.

Meeting Location:
Austin City Hall
500 4th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912
Agenda:
3:00-4:30 pm — City/County Staff public, volunteer stewards, etc.
5:30 — 6:00 pm — dinner for evening session
6:00-7:30 pm — Elected Officials, public, volunteer stewards, etc.
Topics/Speakers:
MN GreenStep Cities Program:
Philipp Muessig, Sustainable Communities Coordinator
for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Current regional green initiatives:
Michelle Schroeder, Izaak Walton League — Minnesota
Division

Follow-up plan:
Susan Waughtal, SE CERT Outreach Coordinator

Austin Utilities (evening only):
Dave Thompson - will provide literature on new and
improved programs and speak on changes in Austin
Utilities services and programs

Using Green Strategies to Increase Your Bottom Line

What?
A fun and informative Green Business workshop sponsored by SE CERTS & the Southern MN Initiative Foundation (plus, a delicious local food lunch!)
Who:
For small businesses and other organizations who want to increase their profits through energy efficiency, waste reduction and other sustainable practices
When: Wednesday, February 17th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, Lanesboro, MN
How much: $15, including lunch

View the Invitation, topics and speakers online: http://enews.smifoundation.org/bsp/Green_Strategies_Invite_2010.htm

Register online here: https://ssl.charityweb.net/smifoundation/event/register.htm?id=SMIF-0005-2010-GreenStrategiesLanesboro

Hope to see you there!

Community Wind Forum in Mapleton

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force will be hosting a Community Wind Forum in Mapleton on Monday, February 8th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Token Barbeque. This Forum is open to any person interested in learning about creating a local community wind development project. The Forum highlights will include models of successful community wind projects and the legalities and economics of developing a community wind project.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a lite supper served. There is no cost to attend, but registration will confirm supper. Please RSVP to Sarah at arah@rndc.org or (507)389-8880.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force is a partnership of small businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, non-profits and citizen leaders who have come together to focus on renewable energy development opportunities within the region.

Sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and Gustavus Adolphus College.

MN GreenStep Cities Workshop in Austin

On February 24, 2010, The Izaak Walton League (Minnesota Division and Austin chapter) and Austin Coalition for Environmental Sustainability are hosting a MN GreenStep Cities Workshop, an action plan for cities, counties and their citizens to reduce greenhouse gases.

Meeting Location:
Austin City Hall
500 4th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912
Agenda:
3:00-4:30 pm — City/County Staff public, volunteer stewards, etc.
5:30 — 6:00 pm — dinner for evening session
6:00-7:30 pm — Elected Officials, public, volunteer stewards, etc.
Topics/Speakers:
MN GreenStep Cities Program:
Philipp Muessig, Sustainable Communities Coordinator
for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Current regional green initiatives:
Michelle Schroeder, Izaak Walton League — Minnesota
Division

Follow-up plan:
Susan Waughtal, SE CERT Outreach Coordinator

Austin Utilities (evening only):
Dave Thompson - will provide literature on new and
improved programs and speak on changes in Austin
Utilities services and programs

What is Minnesota GreenStep Cities?
The program, launching Summer 2010, is being developed by the MN Pollution Control
Agency, MN Office of Energy Security, the League of MN Cities, the Clean Energy Resource Teams ("CERTs") and others. It will identify, support and recognize implementation of sustainable development best practices that lead cities beyond compliance, encouraging a culture of innovation and friendly competition.

The best practices fall under five categories:

1) land use planning
2) improved energy efficiency in buildings and facilities
3) city vehicle fleet transformation and street improvements
4) environmental management
5) economic & community development

Margaret Levin, State Director for the Sierra Club North Star Chapter, stated "We are pleased to partner with this statewide initiative, which embodies Sierra Club's goals, through our Cool Cities program, to enact real, local solutions that save energy and money; reduce global warming pollution; and help build the new clean energy economy."

"By gathering a robust slate of sustainability best practices for local government, GreenStep Cities can provide cities large and small with an invaluable tool to move from the idea of going green to implementation," says Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs Statewide Coordinator. "This will also be a great tool to help community members engage their local City officials in discussions about sustainability best practices and what is and is not currently happening at a local level."

For further information, see www.MNGreenSteps.org

Community Wind Forum in Kiester -rescheduled

Due to the weather, the Kiester Community Wind Forum has been rescheduled.
It will be held on Monday, February 1st from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force will be hosting a Community Wind Forum in Kiester at the Kiester Community Center. This Forum is open to any person interested in learning about creating a local community wind development project. The Forum highlights will include models of successful community wind projects and the legalities and economics of developing a community wind project.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a lite supper served. There is no cost to attend, but registration will confirm supper. Please RSVP to Sarah at sarah@rndc.org or (507)389-8880.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force is a partnership of small businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, non-profits and citizen leaders who have come together to focus on renewable energy development opportunities within the region.
Sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Kee Town and Country Centre and Gustavus Adolphus College.
There will be a similar meeting in Mapleton on February 8.

Prairie Biomass Harvest Field Day

From Fulda Free Press
November 11, 2009

A field day will be held November 19, 2009, near Dundee, Minnesota, to discuss the impacts and benefits of harvesting prairie plants for renewable fuels. The Prairie Biomass Harvest Field Day will be held from 1:00pm to 3:00 p.m. at a local research plot being utilized by Dr. Clarence Lehman, University of Minnesota, and partners.

The field day, located within Talcot Lake Wildlife Management Area, will be an interactive event in which participants will discuss the research being done and the multiple benefits of using prairie plants for renewable fuels. The research project’s harvest equipment will be available for viewing thanks to Minnesota Native Landscapes. This is an outdoor event. Please dress accordingly.

Partners for this event include: University of Minnesota, Rural Advantage, South Dakota State University, EcoSun Prairie Farms, Minnesota Native Landscapes, University of Minnesota Extension, The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture though a Conservation Innovation Grant.

Directions: From Windom, go about 15 miles west on State Hwy 62, then north on Cottonwood Co Rd 7. Travel West on Co Rd 15 for about 1/2 mile. Plot will be on south side of road. From Fulda, go about 8 miles east on State Hwy 62, then north on Co Rd 7. Travel west on Co Rd 15 for about 1/2 mile. Plot will be on south side of road.

Field days will be rain or shine. However, difficult traveling due to snow or ice will be call for cancelation. For weather related cancellations, please contact: 763-234-3846

Source: Jill Sackett, Conservation Agronomist & Extension Educator with Rural Advantage & University of Minnesota Extension, Fairmont, Minn.

Conserve & Save Workshops

Austin & Owatonna homeowners: Learn how to reduce your energy use and save money!

Conserve and Save is a great new full-service residential energy program that provides Austin and Owatonna homeowners with energy workshops, home visits- including a blower door and low-cost materials (up to a $300 value for a co-pay of only $25). In addition, information about specialized financing, incentives, stimulus funding and rebates will be available to make improvements to your home. Funding Provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Attend one of the FREE Workshops*

Tuesday, November 17th, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
JC Hormel Nature Center
1304 21st Street Northeast, Austin

Saturday, November 21st, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Owatonna Junior High School
500 15th Street Northeast, Owatonna

Reserve your spot today!
Beth Bennett (612) 335-5874 or bbennett@mncee.org

Frontiers in the Environment - Lecture Series

Frontiers in the Environment will explore the frontiers of knowledge in climate change, renewable energy, land use and other environmental hot topics. Speakers will provide the audience with a true understanding of the issue, its global significance and potential breakthroughs on the horizon. Join us Wednesdays at noon for a presentation and Q&A session, followed by a get-together in the Institute on the Environment Commons.

Jonathan Foley, director of the IonE, opens the series with "The Other Inconvenient Truth: Feeding and Fueling the World," a thought-provoking talk on our global crisis in land use and agriculture.

Frontiers in the Environment
Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m. (starting Sept. 23)
IonE Seminar Room 380
VoTech Bldg., St. Paul campus
Free and open to the public; no registration required

October Lectures:
Oct. 7
“Solar After Dark: Storage Options”
Jane Davidson, Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Oct. 14
“Food, Energy and Global Climate: Solving the Trilemma”
David Tilman, Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

Oct. 21
“Fixing our Toxics Problem: Ivory Tower or White Castle?”
Deborah Swackhamer,Co-director, Water Resources Center

Oct. 28
“Mind the Gap:
Building Bridges to Mainstream the Value of Ecosystem Services in Everyday Decisions”
Stephen Polasky, Professor, Applied Economics/Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

See the complete Frontiers schedule and Speaker Bios

Can't make it to the St. Paul campus? The lectures will also air live online and will be archived for future viewing.
Watch and listen online via UMConnect

Global Energy Policy Event

Denmark’s Greener Future: Influencing Global Energy Policy

Thursday, October 1, 2009
1:30 to 2:30pm
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center

Due to President Obama visit to Denmark to address the Olympic Committee, Friis Arne Petersen, Danish Ambassador to the United States will be accompanying the president. The Danish Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Søren Jensen will speak on Thursday.

In anticipation of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15), DCM Jensen, will offer a preview of what might be the new global agreement on the reduction of man-made greenhouse gases. With portions of the Kyoto protocol expiring in 2012 the summit in Copenhagen marks the last chance to implement a new agreement.

Denmark is a leader in adopting renewable energy programs, with 17% of the country’s energy coming from renewable sources of power. A global agreement that that combines respect for the environment with living standards and long-term security of the energy supply is the highest political priority for the Government of Denmark. Learn more about how Denmark is pursing a greener future at this interesting conversation and how we can all be involved.

This free event is sponsored by the Humphrey Institute’s Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy and the Minnesota International Center.

This email was sent by:
Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy
University of Minnesota
319 Nineteenth Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-3032
hhh.umn.edu/centers/stpp

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cstpp/policycatalyst/

© 2008 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Energy & the Economy is focus of RE-fest 2009

From Post-Bulletin story 9/12/09
By Kurt Nesbitt

This year's RE-fest will focus more on how green jobs can grow the U.S. economy.

Like its predecessor, the second installment of RE-fest will mix fun with education about better living and a cleaner environment when it returns to Riverland Community College in Austin next weekend, except the 2009 version will delve into economic issues.

Its featured speaker, J. Drake Hamilton, will talk about what is needed to encourage private investment and entrepreneurship and economic opportunities centered around clean energy as well as a way to create clean-energy jobs in the U.S., cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil and use science to reduce global warming.

Hamilton is the science policy director at Fresh Energy, a St. Paul-based non-profit organization that is working to get the country to transition to cleaner, more efficient energy.

Read the entire story:
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=415844

Got Solar? You Are Wanted!

If you are powered by the sun or other alternative energy source, you are invited to be a Solar Tour Site this year. It is a great way to help educate more people on Renewable Energy Options. The qualifying RE systems are solar electric, solar hot water, passive or active solar hot air, ground-source heat, and/or wind energy system at your home or business.

The Tour is Saturday, October 3rd from 10am to 5pm. and the MN Renewable Energy Society can provide volunteers to help you at your site for the day. In thanks for being a site, the American Solar Energy Society and MN Renewable Energy Society will give you a one year membership which includes discounts for classes and a one year subscription to Home Power magazine.

If you're interested in more information please go to: http://www.mnrenewables.org/solar-tour or email laurac@mnrenewables.org

If you would like to enter your site please go to: http://www.mnrenewables.org/solar-tour and click on Submit a Site Application.

Dispersed Renewable Generation (DRG) Transmission Study -- Webinar August 18th

Tomorrow: We want to share this update opportunity with you on the Dispersed Renewable Generation (DRG) Transmission Study. Tomorrow, August 18th, from 1-2pm, there will be a webinar to provide a brief update on the study efforts, methodologies, status, and schedule. Click here to register for the August 18th webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/477291025. No study results will be presented at the August 18th webinar.

Next Month: There will also be a longer webinar to present the results of Phase II of the DRG Transmission Study on September 15th from 1-3pm. Visit the CERTs site for more information about registering, hosting a local viewing, or attending a local viewing at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/events/calendar/08/17/09/dispersed-renewable-generation-transmission-study-phase-ii-webinar.

2009 Minnesota Road Show

Please join MEI and MN Waste Wise in Duluth for the second Minnesota Road Show.

Tuesday, August 25
7:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
University of Minnesota Duluth
Solon Campus Center
1117 University Drive
Duluth, MN

The 2009 Minnesota Road Show is a series of four informative fleet efficiency workshops in four Minnesota Cities - Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. The workshops will feature presentations from national experts and experienced local fleet managers on emission reduction strategies, alternative fuels, available technologies, and funding opportunities. Optional lunch breakout sessions will explore these topics in depth, and provide an opportunity to get solutions to specific problems, share experiences and discuss challenges across sectors.

For more information on the 2009 Minnesota Road Shows eries, or to register for the Duluth workshop,
visit http://www.mnwastewise.org/resources/events.cfm or contact Kate Worley

Also, mark your calendars for the upcoming events in St. Cloud on Thursday, October 1 and in Rochester on Thursday, November 5. Details and registration will be posted soon at http://www.mn.ei.org/events/upcoming.html .

Conserve & Save at Home Workshops

Full-Service Residential Energy Program Coming to
Austin & Owatonna!

Launching in November, the Conserve and Save at Home workshops will give Austin and Owatonna homeowners the chance to be among the first Minnesota residents to participate in a new full-service residential energy program! The program will include FREE energy workshops, home visits from qualified professionals including low-cost materials as well as specialized financing, incentives and rebates to make improvements to their home.
Workshops will be held on:

Tuesday, November 17th, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
JC Hormel Nature Center (1304 21st St. NE, Austin)

OR

Saturday, November 21st, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Owatonna Junior High School (500 15th St. NE, Owatonna)

Reserve your spot at the workshop by contacting Beth Bennett at 612-335-5874 or bbennett@mncee.org.
For more information contact Ashley Robertson at (612)335-5869 or arobertson@mncee.org. Funding for this project was provided in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

On-Farm Oilseed Production Workshop -July 25th

Workshop presented by Organic Valley Cooperative staff

This presentation will cover every stage of production in the processing of sustainable biodiesel fuels, from the initial planting of an oilseed crop to the final biodiesel or straight vegetable oil (SVO) product. In addition, we will look at the different aspects of a farm-scale model and directly relate this information to the economics of these processes. We will go through the numbers and demonstrate vegetable oil extraction and biodiesel processing with a diesel engine converted for SVO on a 466 International straight truck.

Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Kickapoo Country Fair, Organic Valley, La Farge, Wisconsin

Registration:Registration requested. Please send your contact information to Amy Stratton at astratton@iatp.org and specify "oilseed workshop" in the subject line. You will receive a confirmation email and more details.

More information at www.iatp.org or www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo. Sponsored by Organic Valley, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Homeowners' Solar Workshop in Winona

Solar Energy — Ready for Your Home Today!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
6:00 – 8:30 pm
Winona Senior High School 903 Gilmore Ave. Winona, Mn
organized by the Renewable Energy Subcommittee of the Winona County Economic Development Authority.

The workshop’s presenters – ranging from installers and dealers to suppliers - represent the best professionals in the business today. With the substantial tax credits, state incentives and utility rebates now in place, solar energy has never been more economically viable. At the end of the evening attendees can expect to walk away with the confidence needed to decide if a solar system – whether solar PV or solar thermal – is right for them.

Agenda
6:00 Affordability of Solar: Tax Credits & other Incentives Pam Newell,, Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards Program
6:30 Efficiency & the Value of One Technology over Another Lynn Hinkle, HK Climate Solutions
7:00 Solar Thermal and Solar PV — Key Considerations Ralph Jacobson, Innovative Power Systems
8:00 Installation & Addressing Code Concerns Tom Thompson, Pine Island Solar

Registration requested by calling 507.457.6468 or by e-mail to amorse@co.winona.mn.us

This workshop is the second in a series of 2009 Summer Renewable Energy Workshops for Homeowners. The first workshop, held in Ridgeway in June, focused on geothermal energy. The third and final workshop, to be held in St. Charles on August 20th, will focus on small wind turbines, sized 40kw and under.

IREE Algae Biofuel Presentation

IREE Event:
Biofuel Activities at Sandia and Opportunities with the Department of Energy's Biomass Program

Ron Pate (a principal member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories) will offer a brief introduction to the work of Sandia National Laboratories, followed by an overview of Sandia's programmatic interest in biofuels and recent biofuel project activities, with an emphasis on algae. He'll also provide information on current funding opportunities through the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program.

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Location: Cargill Building
1500 Gortner Avenue
University of Minnesota: St. Paul campus