10-20-2010 ECC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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5. Proiect Conserve Phase II Update The first orientation meetings have been held on how to save electricity. The next meetings will be held October 30tH (9- 17 a.m.) November 15t (3-5 p.m.) and November 4m (s:so-s:so a.m.) The focus for the second meeting will be energy auditing and winterizing the home. The meetings will be held at the High School Little Theater on the 30tH and the 4tH. All commissioners are invited to attend. So far, 306 households are participating. Chair Zehringer discussed SOPR -Save Our Precious Resources teams. Mini groups set up to compete against one another for the most conservation and savings. The teams consist of three team members and a coach. The winning team (4 families) will get a trip to a Minnesota resort for a weekend from ERMU as an incentive to participate and recruit. It's not too late to sign up. Meetings are being made available on DVD or online. They can be checked out to be watched. Key words are placed throughout the program for those getting "credit" by watching rather than attending. The cost of the audits is reduced by program attendance or watching the DVD or online. A make-up session will be held as well, next Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at City Hall. 6. Business Recvcling Event Ross informed the commission that the City of Elk River held an event at Great River Energy on September 30tH from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. to launch the new Business Recycling Program. Approximately 25 people attended to hear local business owner, Jack Mowry (Metalcraft) speak as well as Kerry Nichols (Communication Systems, Inc) from Minnetonka on green initiatives they have implemented in their businesses saving them tens of thousands of dollars. Metalcraft received $90,000 in rebates for the new building (the bulk in the HVAC system). It was received positively. Utilities also presented the programs they have available. Staff hopes to offer events quarterly with the next one being at the end of January. A survey will be sent to attendees. The Star News had a nice article on it. 7. Green Step Cities Ross reported that Green Step Cities is a program through the MPCA which is just starting up. They had a pilot project last year with five cities incorporating up to 28 Best Management Practices (BMPs) with many different actions under each BMP. For cities that accomplish BMP practices toward sustainability, they will receive recognition through the program and League of MN Cities. The MPCA is looking for partners to be able to give grants and awards to the participants. The program was based off of Elk River so Ross was encouraged to get Elk River in the program. The City Council has passed a resolution to become a Green Step City. There are different levels of status so Elk River may be at the top level once the paperwork is submitted (after the meeting). Commissioner Touchette asked how many are in the program. Five are in it already with 20 more entering. Elk River may jump to the lead once the documentation is taken care of. 10.Coal Creek Station Presentation Chair Zehringer recently toured the Coal Creek Station in Underwood, ND. He put together a slide show presentation discussed details of the station which burns lignite coal for energy which is sent via direct current so that fewer conductors and towers are needed and the percentage of line loss is lowered. Commissioner Steinbeck added information as the presentation progressed regarding efficiency, ethanol production at the site, and wind energy capacity, etc.