It seems pretty simple: we should use energy as efficiently as possible. It saves money and avoids negative environmental consequences and costs next to nothing. Why waste electricity to get the same results?
Want to learn how energy efficiency can save money, create jobs, and fight global warming in Minnesota? On November 3, why not see for yourself how a local company has reaped the benefits.
Yesterday I drove 1.5 hours north to attend the groundbreaking for the Upper Midwest's largest PV solar facility. The facility, on four acres of Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN, will produce 575 megawatt hours annually and will offset about 20 percent of Saint John's peak energy needs during the summer months and approximately 4 percent of the campus's overall energy needs on an annual basis. The farm will consist of approximately 1,800 solar modules and is 4 times larger than the largest current PV solar farm in Minnesota. The project is a partnership of Mortenson Construction, Westwood Renewables, Saint John's University, the Abbey, and Xcel Energy. Abbot John and the owner of Westwood Renewables, Mario Monesterio, both spoke at the ceremonial groundbreaking and blessing of the solar farm site. Construction is expected to be complete and the farm operational by Thanksgiving.
A day ahead of schedule, we've gotten a glimpse of what the Senate has in mind for its comprehensive climate and energy bill. The bill, largely written by senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), is very similar to the bill that the House passed in June. But according to early reporting, there are a few key differences that are emerging from this early draft.
The release of the
recent ACEEE study on business and consumer savings from energy efficiency is covered in Minnesota business daily
Finance and Commerce. The article highlighted that "Minnesota households would save an average of $240 per year and the state would create 11,400 jobs by 2020 if aggressive energy efficiency goals touted by environmental groups are approved by Congress, according to a national study." Check out the entire story on the
Finance and Commerce website.
According to a new report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy efficiency provisions in the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES - H.R. 2454) with improvements could create more than 569,000 new jobs nationwide in the next 10 years and provide hundreds of dollars in annual savings for every household in America.
Senators Boxer and Kerry just announced a small delay in the introduction of the climate and energy bill. The bill will now be introduced in late September.
Posted by: Kate Ellis in policy, coal, Big Stone II on
Jul 14, 2009
Last night, the Elk River City Council came to the consensus that the municipal utility should not become a part owner of the proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plant near Milbank, SD. The city council was acting on a recommendation from the municipal utility not to invest into the facility, largely due to the many unknown financial risks associated with the plant, including pending carbon legislation. The city council and municipal utility felt that there was too much risk associated with the plant to justify investing ratepayers' money. Elk River joins Great River Energy and the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency as entities who have opted not to invest in Big Stone II.
Posted by: Kate Ellis in policy, news, coal, Big Stone II on
Jul 9, 2009
In a special meeting last night, Elk River's Utility Commission voted unanimously last night to recommend NOT investing in the new Big Stone II coal plant. Kudos to the commission for protection the ratepayers of Elk River and rejecting a new coal plant that would pollute for another 50 years! The commission's recommendation will be passed on to the city council for a final vote on Monday, July 13. If voted down then, Elk River would join Great River Energy and the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in deciding not to invest in this new coal plant. Stay posted to this blog for the latest developments in the Big Stone II project.
After their meeting on June 29, the Elk River City Council decided to table a vote on investment in Big Stone II until their meeting on July 13 (for more information about this important vote read our action alert). We have just learned that the Elk River Utilities Commission has called a special meeting tomorrow (July 8) at 4:00PM at the Elk River Utilities Office in the Lowertown Conference Room. The Commission is going to pass a recommendation for or against investment in Big Stone II to the city council for a vote at their meeting on July 13.
Fresh Energy Blog