6.1. SR 08-03-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Energy City, Sustainability, and Conservation In the fall of 2005, Elk River decided to brand itself as the state's "Energy City." Back in 1997, Elk River had been designated as an energy city by the Minnesota Environmental Institute. In 2007, Elk River's newly formed Energy City Commission trademarked Elk River as "Energy City" with the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. It also received a federal trademark in 2008. With this initiative, ERMU made a commitment to responsible resource management. This was accomplished through innovative initiatives, including a landfill gas-to-electricity facility, geothermal heat pumps, and garbage-derived fuel. An existing Action Committee for Energy was replaced by the Energy City Commission, which was responsible for developing the Energy City program and commenting on energy-related issues facing the city. Thirteen different demonstration sites were opened for tours as an Energy City program. The sites were intended to educate the public and help shape the way young people grow up thinking about energy.124 Energy City was funded by the city and ERMU and cost$57,000. ERMU found it more difficult to secure money for conservation programs than for infrastructure investments, and some were skeptical of the benefits. Elk River mayor John Dietz, for example,was not sure that it was worth the cost. He called it a"hard sell" because he could not see how it benefitted taxpayers.125 Regardless, ERMU remained committed to sustainable energy and conservation programs in the new millennium. In 2005, it developed three "Energy Houses" to educate the public on the latest renewable energy technologies. These houses featured new technologies like poured-in-place insulated basement walls, structurally insulated wall and roof panels, geothermic heat pumps, and electric off-peak heated basement floors. Many of the building materials used to construct the energy houses were made from recycled sources.126 ERMU supported new sustainable energy sources, hosting a wind turbine along Highway 169 in 2005. The turbine did not produce much energy because it was sheltered by the hilly, surrounding geography. It was, however, in a highly visible location and raised awareness of wind energy.127 Expanding on the 1998 LED project, all traffic signals in Elk River were equipped with LED bulbs in 2005. The new bulbs were brighter, lasted five to ten times longer, and were more energy efficient, using only 10 percent of the power required by incandescent bulbs. The project was met with hesitation because of the high up-front costs—ten times that of incandescent lights—but the commission approved the project based on long-term benefits.128 In 2008, ERMU expanded its LED light installation project. An LED streetlight was purchased by Connexus and installed by ERMU as a test. Benefits of LED streetlights included lower lighting costs and reduced energy usage, which resulted in lower carbon-dioxide emissions. As with the LED 124"From Wind Turbine to Traffic Lights,Focus Is on Energy,"Elk River Star News,October 12,2005;"Energy City,"http://www.elkrivennn.gov/index.aspx?NID=739(accessed April 15,2014);T. W.Budig,"Legislation is on the Way to Make Elk River`the State Energy City, "Elk River Star News,February 20,2007. 121 Joni Astrup,"Energy City Comes under Budget Scrutiny,"Elk River Star News,July 20,2011. 121"From Wind Turbine to Traffic Lights,Focus Is on Energy." 127 Ibid. 128 Ibid. 34