News: County to run on wind power for Earth Day

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For release: April 20, 2014

Contact: 
Leah Hinike
r, Property Services, 612-543-1219
Kayla Bromelkamp, Communications, 612-348-8536

News release

County to run on wind power for Earth Day

For the second year, Hennepin County will purchase clean, renewable wind energy to offset electricity use for county buildings on Earth Day, April 22. The energy is purchased through Windsource, Xcel Energy’s voluntary green power program.

The 150,000 kilowatt-hours of wind energy purchased for Hennepin County facilities on Earth Day is equivalent to:

  • The annual energy use of over 18 Minnesota homes or
  • One year of greenhouse gas emissions from 21.8 passenger vehicles or
  • Greenhouse gas emissions from 37 tons of waste sent to the landfill

In 2014, more than 11,000 Minnesota homes and businesses joined the program, bringing the total number of participants in the state to more than 39,000. 

Windsource production has helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Minnesota by an estimated 1.8 billion pounds, or the equivalent emissions of more than 93 million gallons of gasoline.

Every block of wind power purchased through Windsource supports:

  • A cleaner, healthier community and environment
  • Economic development for rural communities where wind is generated, in the form of jobs, tax revenue and income for land owners
  • Energy sources that take advantage of abundant natural resources
  • Affordable and domestic energy production that promotes electricity price stability

Xcel Energy currently has 20 wind farms dedicated or partially dedicated to Windsource, representing 64 wind turbines and nearly 90 megawatts of capacity. 

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.