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OS/10/10 <br />Notable Energy City accomplishments and demonstrations to date: <br />• Energy Houses I, II, and III (Energy House I was a Gold Medal winner at the <br />National Home Builders Association's convention in 1998 and Energy House III <br />received the Building Excellence Award at the Structural Insulated Panel Association <br />Convention in 2006). Energy House III also received the Governor's MN GREAT <br />Award in 2006. <br />• Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Facility (The original plant received the US <br />Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane Outreach Program's project of <br />the year award in 1998). The new and much larger Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Power <br />Plant received the Governor's MN GREAT Award in 2006. <br />• The utility-scale wind generator (built in 2001). <br />• First city to convert completely to LED traffic lights. <br />• Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Processing Plant. <br />• GRE's RDF fueled Elk River Station electric generating plant. Elk River Station has <br />been converted to utilize six different fuel sources in its 56 year history and is still <br />going strong! <br />• Constructed a Peaking Plant at the GRE Elk River Station <br />• Commercial use of geothermal heat pumps <br />• Sustainable Buildings Project (as an Energy City Partner, Elk River Area School <br />District was selected as the pilot for the Sustainable Schools Project. This Project is <br />having a statewide impact on how schools are built and run, and has gained national <br />recognition). <br />• Twin Lakes Elementary Gold LEED Certified school building. Other Elk River Area <br />School District buildings are also sustainable or LEED certified (Rogers High School <br />and Westwood Elementary in Zimmerman). <br />• Elk River Library Gold LEED Certified library building. <br />• Photovoltaic Demonstration at residential home <br />• Project Conserve receives 2009 League of MN Cities Award for Sustainability and <br />Energy Use and the 2009 Recycling Association of MN Green Project of the Year <br />Award <br />• Federally Trademarked in 2008 and State Trademarked in 2006 <br />• Four Energy Expos since 2007 focusing on educating the general public about <br />energy conservation <br />• Extensive Media coverage on Sustainable Community throughout the nation <br />• International Exposure: Multiple tours for foreign politicians, environmentalist, <br />scientists, engineers, governmental agencies, etc. <br />• Various tour groups: 4-H groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, school groups, home school <br />groups, charter school groups, RAM, BioBusiness Alliance of MN, and several <br />others. <br />• Designated as a "Energy City" by the State Legislature in 2007 <br />