This post originally appeared on ILSR’s Energy Self-Reliant States blog. Last week, a solar energy standard moved one step closer to passage in the Minnesota state legislature, with an innovative new approach to financing solar power. It’s a powerful first step for what would be one of the more robust policies to … [continued]
I know we’re not supposed to choose a favourite — we should love them all equally — but I have always loved wind energy more than the others. It has a majesty and simplicity to it that I find really attractive. So I really enjoy reporting on wind energy milestones. … [continued]
Reposted from Greentech Media: By Herman Trabish At least twenty-two of the 29 state renewables standards have been attacked by legislators or regulators in the last year or are now under attack. Known as a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) or a Renewable Energy Standard (RES), these mandates require utilities to … [continued]
Three years ago, the prospects of Americans owning their energy future seemed relatively bleak. There were almost no replicable models for doing community-based energy projects or investment, despite falling costs and technology – solar and wind – that lend themselves to local development. But thanks to recent opportunities in community … [continued]
Like many cities attempting to solve climate change at a local level, Minneapolis is finding the prospect more challenging that it may have imagined. The lion’s share of emissions (two-thirds in the case of Minneapolis) come from electricity and gas sold by two monopoly, corporate utilities. Minnesota’s state-level policy is … [continued]
Xcel Energy, a Minneapolis based utility company, plans to restart a battery bank used for wind energy storage after a potential fire risk prompted its shutdown. This $4.7 million sodium-sulfur battery bank was operational for two years without a problem, however, a similar battery caught fire in Japan. It was … [continued]
As community solar grows in popularity, an innovative solar project by the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association in Minnesota highlights the opportunity of merging local ownership with locally assembled solar panels. Earlier this fall, this cooperative serving communities just north and west of the Twin Cities metropolitan area announced Minnesota’s first … [continued]
From the 1960s to the 1980s many affordable housing projects were developed. As these units have begun to age, they require frequent repair and upgrades to address health, safety, and energy efficiency concerns. The Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP) found that incorporating energy efficiency measures into its housing accommodations … [continued]
Minnesota is not known for mild winters, which makes keeping heat in buildings a top priority. Weatherization is the prime approach to do just that. Weatherization techniques, such as air sealing and envelope improvements, provide relatively low-cost energy savings and warmer buildings for occupants in wintertime. Air sealing steps … [continued]
Randy Washburn has a knack for how things operate. Although he has only been Supervisor of Itasca County’s Facilities Management Office for five years, he has made a huge impact. Washburn has a good understanding of the constraints of the county’s energy budget. This is why he started asking … [continued]
