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C A <br />RECHARGE <br />A M E R I C A <br />PARTICIPANT PROFILE <br />City of <br />El <br />k. .- <br />River <br />City of Elk River The City of Elk River, MN, was named "Energy City" in 1997 by the <br />Minnesota Environmental Initiative. it's a badge the city wears proudly, as it has <br />successfully converted what was once the first rural nuclear power plant in the U.S. to a <br />refuse -burning power plant run by Great River Energy. Environmental efforts take <br />priority in the city, which has been one of the fastest -growing suburbs of the Twin Cities. <br />The city itself takes the lead in promoting sustainability efforts for its residents. In the <br />past several years, Elk River has achieved step 5 — the highest level possible — in <br />Minnesota's Green Step Cities certification program and held EV days at the local <br />farmer's market. The city maintains a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, which currently <br />includes 11 EVs, and they are actively exploring the possibility of transitioning to electric <br />school buses. In the summer of 2023, Elk River held an ElectriFUNcation event with <br />Recharge America, which drew hundreds of attendees and offered test drives of both <br />e-bikes and EVs. <br />The City of Elk River offers many amenities to its residents, <br />offering a small-town fee/ but close enough to the Twin Cities 3 3 <br />and St. Cloud. <br />— Vern Iverson, Chair, Energy City Commission <br />As Elk River continues to work toward its sustainability goals, they have already learned <br />lessons along the way. They have installed 2 EV charging stations so far, but the cost of <br />installation and the rapidly -changing technology for charging stations presents a <br />challenge to further investment. <br />The city is currently drafting sustainability building requirements for review and <br />approval by the City Council. Demonstrating their commitment to environmental <br />justice, the city has also been working with Elk River Municipal Utilities to facilitate <br />access to alternative power opportunities for all residents across the city's 44 square <br />miles. <br />For more information, visit <br />Recharge•America.org <br />RECHARGE <br />