May 10 | Positively Electric: Embracing clean electricity to power more of our economy

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Photo credit: Brian Christ

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When: Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 7:00-8:30 AM  CST

Where: Town and Country Club, 300 N Mississippi River Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55104

Cost: $30 Fresh Energy members/Government employees/Students, $45 General admission

*Registration will remain open as long as tickets are available

With Minnesota’s electricity mix becoming cleaner and less expensive – and oil and gas becoming dirtier, riskier and more costly – is it time to transition to a more electric economy? Fresh Energy thinks the answer is a resounding yes. We think it’s time to start putting electricity from the wind, the sun, and other local clean power sources into more of Minnesota’s economy. Hear from Stanford University’s Joseph Stagner about the university’s dramatic and award winning shift from fossil fuels to renewable electricity for Stanford’s entire Palo Alto campus, and Great River Energy’s Will Kaul on how they are already demonstrating the value of wind-powered electric cars and water heaters. Together, we will imagine a future where our buildings, transportation, and the vast majority of our economy is run entirely off of clean energy and discuss how to start getting there. You’ll be electrified by this forward-thinking conversation about what is possible!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

JOSEPH STAGNER is the executive director of sustainability and energy management at Stanford University, leading the university’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Energy Management, Utilities, and Parking and Transportation departments. He led the development of the Stanford Energy System Innovations project, which cut the university’s energy use in half and is expected to save the university several hundred million dollars over the next 30 years. Prior to joining Stanford in 2007, Joseph served on the senior facilities management team at UC Davis for fourteen years, following fifteen years with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

WILL KAUL is vice president and chief transmission officer at Great River Energy. Since 2014, Will has been spearheading an effort with Great River Energy’s leaders and members to continue driving the evolution of the region’s electric grid. At the heart of the initiative is his innate spirit of leadership through collaboration, and a vision of a transformed energy system that is more resilient, reliable, affordable, and cleaner than it has ever been before. After more than 38 years with Great River Energy and its predecessor, Will announced that he’ll be retiring from his executive role in July 2017.

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