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General Renewables
Solar
Wind
 
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September 2012
Welcome to Gaining Green -- news you can use about renewable energy, including innovative initiatives in our state, technological advancements, financial incentives, trainings, and events. If you would like to change preferences for the newsletters you are currently subscribed to or if you want to unsubscribe, use the links provided at the bottom of this message.
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources
New CERTs Seed Grants fund numerous renewable
energy projects
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) recently announced its latest round of Seed Grants for seven Minnesota regions, and more than half of the grants have a renewable energy twist. For instance, five regions received grants to train middle and high school teachers on energy efficiency and renewable energy, so the teachers can share their knowledge with students and encourage clean energy careers. The training is a cooperative venture led by the Center for Renewable Energy Education and Demonstration Project. A sampling of other renewable projects includes:
- The Saint Paul Public Schools earned a $2,000 grant to help upgrade the solar photovoltaic array at Battle Creek Environmental Magnet Elementary School.
- The University of Minnesota-Duluth received a $2,500 grant to explore installing a wind turbine on campus as a demonstration project and educational tool.
- The Village of Hope Homeless Shelter in Bemidji will use a $5,000 grant to install a grid-tied solar electric system to demonstrate how solar can benefit nonprofits.
Each of the CERTs regions received $10,000 in grants. Funding was provided by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. View details on all seed grants
New spray valves, faucet aerators offer
big splash in water, energy savings
Local
schools, hospitals, restaurants and other commercial enterprises can buy
efficient pre-rinse spray valves and faucet aerators at low prices and realize
dramatic savings in water and energy use, thanks to the Minnesota Water Saving Bulk
Buy Program led by the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Niagara
Conservation. Users can save 60 percent off on Niagara Conservation spray
valves and 75 percent off on faucet aerators. In addition, several utilities
are offering rebates on the pre-rinse spray valves, reducing costs to the
end-user even more.
The
upgraded spray valves, used to pre-rinse dishes, offer the same pressure and
quality performance that you get from current spray values, but use 57 percent
less water. The faucet aerators save over 75 percent on water, sewer, and
energy costs. For more information, check out the CERTified campaign on the CERTs website.
Minnesota Solar Tour to showcase
renewable energy on Oct. 6
The Minnesota Solar Tour, a first-hand opportunity to view a range
of renewable energy systems, will take place Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
throughout Minnesota. The self-guided public tour highlights more than 50
homes, businesses, and institutions that have incorporated renewable energy
into the design and operation of their buildings. In addition to a variety of
solar installations, the Solar Tour will feature ground source heat pumps, wind
turbines, and electric cars. The tour is sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy
Society. View more
information, including featured installations and maps.
USDA’s REAP provides funding
for four Minnesota projects
Four Minnesotans are among the 106 recipients to receive funding
for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), it was announced Aug.
14. Grants to Minnesotans were awarded to Carl Louwagie and Neil Schlaak for
grain dryer projects, D. K. Pagel Wind Properties, LLC for installation of a
39.9 kW wind turbine, and to Bruce Anderson for a geothermal heat pump. REAP provides grants
and loan guarantees for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to
reduce energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy technologies in their
operations, and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. For more
on the REAP awards…
Estimated 250,000 visit Energy Solutions
Home at State Fair
About 250,000 people visited the Eco
Experience at this year’s Minnesota State Fair and virtually all of those
fairgoers checked out the Energy Solutions Home (ESH), the centerpiece of the
Eco Experience that was sponsored and coordinated by the Minnesota Department
of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER). ESH, covering more than 6,000
square feet with 11 exhibits, was a showcase of energy efficiency and energy
conservation for Minnesota homeowners.
“The State Fair is by far the biggest
outreach event DER takes part in each year, and this year it got much bigger,
thanks to our expanded role at this year’s Eco Experience,” said Bill Grant,
deputy commissioner of DER. “Not only did our division sponsor, design and
oversee construction of the Energy Solutions Home, but we were able to tailor
important messages about cost-effective, energy-saving home improvements.”
Last April, DER responded to a Request
for Information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to conceptualize,
design and produce a “Green Homes” exhibit at the State Fair. When DER was
awarded the challenge, it immediately went to work to orchestrate ESH. DER developed
a concept for the exhibit and then recruited numerous partners to implement the plan. The result was
educational displays that demonstrated to homeowners ways
to improve the efficiency, comfort, safety and environmental impact of their
homes.
The ESH
exhibit
featured three displays created and staffed by DER: a Home Lighting Options
display, a Home Performance feature, and a Home Envelope display. All three
included interactive components designed to engage visitors and encourage them
to seek answers to home improvement questions.
The overall exhibit will serve as the
foundation for the Fair’s Green Homes exhibit for the next two years, with some
additions and improvements to take place.
North Central Cleantech Open Innovation
Expo & Awards is Oct. 18
Top
cleantech entrepreneurs and their startup businesses from across the North
Central Region will come together for the North Central Cleantech Open
Innovation Expo & Awards program from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Aria
at the Jeune Lune in Minneapolis.
The event includes a two-hour trade expo
showcasing 2010 and 2011 NCCTO alumni companies, 2012 accelerator companies,
partners, and sponsor organizations. The top four start-ups from this year’s
competition will be announced and will advance to Silicon Valley to compete
with companies from across the United States for national recognition.
Last
year, Atmosphere Recovery, Inc., based in Eden Prairie, Minn., was the Grand
Prize national honoree and won $250,000. The event is open to the public. Get more
information
or register for the expo.
AEOA’s green energy training program
creates jobs, cultivates potential
A short-term green
energy training program in Northeastern Minnesota generated seven full-time,
living wage jobs and enhanced the road to employment for many more, thanks to
the Sustainable Employment through Training & Trade (SETT) Program, known
as Get SETT. Get SETT was a unique first-time effort that served 30 unemployed
or under employed individuals and helped each of them overcome barriers to secure
employment.
The program was administered by the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity
Agency (AEOA) in Virginia, Minn., and made possible by a $232,979 grant from
the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce,
Division of Energy Resources. For
more on Get SETT
Metro CERT hosts SolarWorks
in Rosemount workshop on Oct. 4
SolarWorks in Rosemount, a workshop sponsored by the Metro Clean
Energy Resource Team (CERT), will be held on Oct. 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the
Rosemount Community Center. If you go, you will learn the basics of solar
energy and get guidance on how to start your own solar energy project. The workshop is free. For more
information, contact Diana McKeown at dianam@CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org or
612-455-9172. RSVP at http://rosemountsolarworks.eventbrite.com.
SWCC certifies additional
small wind turbines
The Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) has issued its first
Limited Power Performance certification to the Endurance Wind Power S-343 and
its sixth Conditional Temporary Certification to the Eveready Kestrel e400nb
250, bringing the total to nine turbine models now partially or fully certified
by SWCC.
Certification is important because it provides greater public
confidence that turbines have been tested for safety, performance and
durability, according to SWCC. It helps prevent unethical marketing and false
claims, ensuring consumer protection and industry credibility. SWCC is an
independent organization that assesses and certifies small wind turbines in
accordance with American Wind Energy Association standards. Visit www.smallwindcertification.org for
more on SWCC.
White Earth Nation to install two
40 kW wind turbines
The White Earth Nation of Minnesota has signed an agreement with
TWN Wind Power to install two 40 kW G-3120 Endurance Wind Power small wind
turbines on its land, it was reported in the Distributed Wind Energy
Association September 2012 newsletter.
The wind turbines, to be mounted on
140-foot towers and connected to the electrical grid, will be used to help power
the White Earth Community Service Center in Naytahwaush and the Ojibwa Building
Supplies facility in Waubun. To read more, go to www.distributedwind.org and
click on “News & Events” and then click on “Newsletters.”
Disclaimer: The mention of products, events or funding resources in this publication does not imply endorsement or support by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
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