Stories

LED lighting project creates savings to better serve Central Minnesotans

Seed Grant supports Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership

"Our Energy Assistance and Weatherization programs help clients with high energy costs reduce their consumption through efficiency projects," shared Dan Josephson, Director of Energy Programs for Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership. Last year the agency began an efficiency initiative by having an energy consultant study the potential of retrofitting the lighting in two buildings it owns, and now the savings are paying off.

Stillwater unites to envision a cleaner energy future

Sharing ideas about growing clean energy

Local communities are taking their energy future into their own hands. I witnessed this firsthand at the listening session Vision for Stillwater’s Energy Future, hosted by the Sustainable Stillwater Energy Working Group in partnership with Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Conservation Minnesota. The goal: to give Stillwater the opportunity to share their ideas and learn more about growing clean energy to benefit the community and neighbors for generations to come.

Are municipal electric vehicle fleets a worthwhile investment?

Connexus Energy teams up with member cities to explore EVs

Municipalities face an important question when they consider switching to electric vehicles (EVs). Which department’s cars should they start with, and is it financially and environmentally worth it? The Municipal Fleet Analysis Project set out to answer this question, with collaboration between Connexus Energy, FleetCarma, and several member municipalities.

Ecolibrium3’s solar garden benefits veterans and families in need

Lincoln Park project will also serve as art gallery & community space

Next year visitors traveling to downtown Duluth will be able to see a solar array producing energy benefitting veterans and low-income families alongside an outdoor art gallery highlighting the Lincoln Park community.

Thermal imaging with drones helps building improvements take off

Also: Automating public building benchmarking with custom software

Warren knows more about the building infrastructure of its community than any other city in the state. Located in northwestern Minnesota, the town of 1,600 used drones to capture thermal imaging to benchmark their community’s buildings. For Warren city officials the focus will now be on how to improve energy efficiency using the state-of-the-art images.

Town of 63 sees cost savings and safer streets with LED lighting

Project will pay back in two years and residents feel safer walking at night

"We only have 29 street lights in Whalan, but they were outdated and costing the city a lot to run and keep up every year," shared City Clerk and Treasurer Lolly Melander. "Now residents are delighted about the lights and how they shine at night. It makes them feel safer to be out walking."