CERTs 2009 | Energy Efficiency: Home, Farm, Business
Session Audio
Moderator Energy Efficiency Overview
Terry Webster, State Energy Office, Minnesota Department of Commerce: Terry Webster is an Information Officer for the Minnesota Office of Energy Security in the Minnesota Department of Commerce, where he implements the public outreach efforts for the State Energy Office. Prior to coming to the state, he owned a small publishing business for nearly 20 years that specialized in creating communications tools for a range of government and non-profit organizations. Before that, he operated a residential construction company for over ten years. He has co-hosted a public service radio show on the ABC network (“The Latest”), has appeared as a regular guest on “It Takes A Village” hosted by Carla Kjellberg, and has been a guest on the “Mondale & Jones” radio show on WCCO. He resides in an older home (still needing a few additional energy improvements) in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Energy Challenge
Neely Crane-Smith, Community Energy Coordinator, Center for Energy and Environment: Neely Crane-Smith is the Community Energy Coordinator for the Center for Energy and Environment, a Minneapolis nonprofit which has been working in energy efficiency and conservation for thirty years. Neely primarily works with communities to organize energy efficiency and conservation programs utilizing the Minnesota Energy Challenge (mnenergychallenge.org), an award-winning website where over 19,500 Minnesota households are pledging to reduce their energy use. With a focus on behavior change and energy efficiency, Neely provides presentations, workshops and program development. Neely is a graduate of Macalester College and a certified Residential Energy Auditor.
Energy Efficiency at the Farm Level
Kent Mowrer, Agricultural Representative, Alliant Energy: Kent Mowrer is an Agriculture Account Representative located in Ames, Iowa. Kent received his Bachelor of Science of Animal Science degree from Iowa State University. Prior to joining Alliant Energy in 2007, Kent was a Site Development Manager at Prestage Farms of Iowa, the six largest pork producer in the USA. Kent gained utility experience as an Inspector/Inventory Manager at Xenia Rural Water District in central Iowa. As an Agriculture Account Representative, Kent’s primary job responsibility is to maintain and strengthen customer relations with Alliant Energy agriculture customers. In addition, Kent promotes agriculture energy efficiency to agriculture customers by performing energy audits, and utilization of Alliant Energy’s Custom and Prescriptive Rebate programs. Kent also provides value to his customers by assisting them with USDA 9006 Grant Audits and securing USDA grants.
Energy Smart: Saving Energy is Smart Business
Mark Blaiser, Executive Director, Minnesota Waste Wise: Mark Blaiser is the executive director of Minnesota Waste Wise and the Energy Smart program. Minnesota Waste Wise is a non-profit affiliate program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that delivers strategic environmental consulting that helps businesses save money through waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency. Mark holds a master’s degree in Environmental Leadership with a focus on environmentally sustainable business practices. Prior to coming to Minnesota Waste Wise, Mark owned and operated a remodeling company that incorporated green building practices.
Clean Energy Resource Teams