A 400-acre parcel that includes Winona County's closed landfill could one day be the site of community greenhouses, farming plots or aquaculture facilities.
A broad coalition of county leaders - including the county commissioners, Project FINE, the Land Stewardship Office and Winona State University - met Wednesday to discuss what to do with the land, a plot near Hwy. 43 with a lot of potential, said County Administrator Duane Hebert.
The county was recently awarded a $5,000 Clean Energy Resource Team planning grant, and ideas for how to spend the money are as wide-ranging as the coalition that met to discuss the parcel.
"I think the opportunities are endless," Hebert said. "The resources are around."
A system at the 50-acre landfill captures and burns methane, and Hebert wants to consider using the gas as an energy source, to heat greenhouses or support an aquaculture and hydroponics system....Read entire story in Winona Daily News
Sunday, January 31, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Green Dorms
A story in U.S. News and World Report about college dormitories going green features St.Olaf College:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/01/28/5-unique-ways-to-go-green-if-youre-living-in-a-dorm.html
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/01/28/5-unique-ways-to-go-green-if-youre-living-in-a-dorm.html
SMIF Renewable Energy Grant Seeks Communities to Boost Economic Growth
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is seeking up to three communities who want to learn how to capitalize on the assets of renewable energy to increase their local economies. As part of the grant, SMIF will provide up to $15,000 for community projects along with training and coaching.
SMIF's grant uses an asset-affirming approach, called the Community Growth Initiative, which puts a strong spotlight on collaboration, local assets, and creativity that generates long-term change.
"Through our Community Growth Initiative, we encourage communities and organizations to draw on their own assets to create change rather than looking to 'outside xperts' for answers and assistance," states Tim Penny, SMIF President & CEO.
Many communities in southern Minnesota are hoping to develop alternative energy sources and the jobs that go along with them. Several communities hosted wind energy forums during the past year in an effort to leverage local opportunities. This new grant partnership will capitalize on that interest and assist communities in growing economic partnerships related to renewable energy of all kinds.
Currently 25 communities within southern Minnesota are partners in this process. These communities are identifying and achieving goals,learning about and leveraging their assets, developing volunteer leaders, and increasing citizen involvement.
Interested communities should send a completed "Renewable Energy Entrepreneurism-Community Growth Initiative" application by February 19, 2010 to Elise Davis
Application and guideline information is available at
www.smifoundation.org
For questions, contact Elise Davis at 507-455-3215.
SMIF's grant uses an asset-affirming approach, called the Community Growth Initiative, which puts a strong spotlight on collaboration, local assets, and creativity that generates long-term change.
"Through our Community Growth Initiative, we encourage communities and organizations to draw on their own assets to create change rather than looking to 'outside xperts' for answers and assistance," states Tim Penny, SMIF President & CEO.
Many communities in southern Minnesota are hoping to develop alternative energy sources and the jobs that go along with them. Several communities hosted wind energy forums during the past year in an effort to leverage local opportunities. This new grant partnership will capitalize on that interest and assist communities in growing economic partnerships related to renewable energy of all kinds.
Currently 25 communities within southern Minnesota are partners in this process. These communities are identifying and achieving goals,learning about and leveraging their assets, developing volunteer leaders, and increasing citizen involvement.
Interested communities should send a completed "Renewable Energy Entrepreneurism-Community Growth Initiative" application by February 19, 2010 to Elise Davis
Application and guideline information is available at
www.smifoundation.org
For questions, contact Elise Davis at 507-455-3215.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Lawsuit May Delay Bent Tree Windfarm
A lawsuit over Wisconsin’s approval of a Minnesota wind farm threatens to delay the construction start and drive up the project cost.
“At this point, we anticipate construction will begin this spring, so we hope the case plays out in a timely manner,” said Steven Schultz, spokesman for Alliant Energy, the utility developing the estimated $500 million Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minn. “But if it isn’t settled, we’ll have to take a closer look then. It would have the potential to delay construction.”
The Bent Tree Wind Farm is expected to generate 200 megawatts. Even though the project will be built in Minnesota, the PSC had to sign off on Bent Tree because Alliant plans to use the electricity for the utility’s Wisconsin territory.
Read full story: dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/01/27/bent-tree-wind-farm-construction-start-threatened-by-lawsuit
“At this point, we anticipate construction will begin this spring, so we hope the case plays out in a timely manner,” said Steven Schultz, spokesman for Alliant Energy, the utility developing the estimated $500 million Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minn. “But if it isn’t settled, we’ll have to take a closer look then. It would have the potential to delay construction.”
The Bent Tree Wind Farm is expected to generate 200 megawatts. Even though the project will be built in Minnesota, the PSC had to sign off on Bent Tree because Alliant plans to use the electricity for the utility’s Wisconsin territory.
Read full story: dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/01/27/bent-tree-wind-farm-construction-start-threatened-by-lawsuit
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Stewartville dentist looks to tap the wind for office
STEWARTVILLE -- Dr. Bruce Trulson of Trulson Dental Clinic in Stewartville is considering adding a 10 kilowatt roof-mounted wind turbine to supplement his clinic's geothermal heating system.
Trulson recently received a $5,000 grant from Clean Energy Resource Teams of Southeast Minnesota to pilot the project, which would be the first of its kind in southeast Minnesota.
Stewartville dentist looks to tap the wind for office
Trulson recently received a $5,000 grant from Clean Energy Resource Teams of Southeast Minnesota to pilot the project, which would be the first of its kind in southeast Minnesota.
Stewartville dentist looks to tap the wind for office
Local groups get clean energy grants
Nine groups ranging from a Stewartville dental clinic to a county landfill will get from $2,000 to $5,000 from the state's Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) to do various projects to save energy or produce clean energy.
They are among 55 grants totaling $280,000 statewide and are intended to be seed money for major work. Money comes from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security.
The nine projects are...
Groups get clean energy grants
They are among 55 grants totaling $280,000 statewide and are intended to be seed money for major work. Money comes from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security.
The nine projects are...
Groups get clean energy grants
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