4. ECCSR 06-16-2010NIISSI~~ ST.ATE~~IENT
Collaboration between the City of Elk River, go~re~~u~aent agencies, and businesses to promote the Elk
River coz~znunity, energy eff ciency, recycling, gr een resources and renewable energy initiatives
tlu~ougll active encouragement, demonstrations and education,
E~E~~Y CITY vision
Identify and info~~n regarding energy related options, oppo~~tunities and e111erging teclu~ologies,
recognizing potential energy and resource conse~~vation methods or possibilities, and encouraging those
that show potential for a reasonable current or future enviro~unental andlor economic benefit to the
co~~.~nunity.
Policy I~eco~nmendaian,
Tl~e City of Ells River should proactively take advantage of the opportunities that arise from tl~e
desig~~ation and status of ENERGY CITY, accomplished by the following goals and tasl~s:
ENEIt~Y CITY 1]esi nation a ortuni foals ~. Tasks
l . Identify ways ~o pron~o~e a positive image o~ Ells ~tiver and eneou~•age economic
in~eres~ and growth
Task: Co~nznunity Energy Expositions
Task: Develop ixu~ovative energy saving programs and incentives energy loan
program} as an Economic Development tool
Task: Collaborate with City staff, Council, Planning Conuuission, Housing
Redevelopz~aent and Economic Development Authorities to investigate and
evaluate possible energy the~ned or related development or redevelopment
dist~~.cts within Eik River such as the Gateway and gravel pit future development
areas,
Task; Encourage promotioza and media coverage of open Douses, de~l~onstration sites
and ENERGY CITY partners
Task; Promote and encourage resource and conse~~vation efforts that result in positive
measurable environ.~~~ental and economic impacts on energy use and energy
produced resources,
Task; Promote City-wide Source Separated organics ~SSU} and Recycling program
through the identification of energy savings and impact,
Task; Demonstrate the tangible benefits to the community derived from tlae initiatives
of ENERGY CITY and its pa~~tners, specifically environmental and economic
benefits to the City's residents and businesses
2, Educate producers and consumers on energy issues options and oppor~uni~ies;
specifically including possible impact on the economy as well as the environn~.en~
s~ar~ing within the Elk ~.ver community,
Task; Community Energy Expositions
Task; Project Conserve, residential a~ad, in the future, co~nnaercial
Task: Advance the tourism of Energy City demonstration sites
Task: Encourage the use of the Environmental Lea~•~~ing Center
Task: Collaborate with Elk River area schools, the School Distt•ict and other area.
youth associations in ENERGY CITY and Its vision, utilizing denlonstranon
sites and educatiol~lresearch opportunities.
Task; Seek publication regarding demonstration sites in teclulical journals, Internet
networking sites and other public and p~7vate media
Task: Promote and sponsor public and private farun~ exhibits by partnering with the
Elk Ri~jer Economic Development Authority VEDA}
Task; Proactively and willf<.~lly develop and utilize ENERGY CITY status as a unique
and valuable Economic Development marketing tool
3. Capitalize on E~ER~Y CITY status, globally
Tasl~; Continue to work with the MN ~ntei~lational Center and the US State
Department give tours to groups from all over tl~e ~~~orld
Tasl~; Encourage partners to identify with Energy City ~websites, social media,
presentations, literature, and networl~ing}
4, Encourage and assist when possible in the development and use of re~.ewable energy
and energy efficient technologies
Task: Recognize, on an ongoing basis, existing energy technology demonstration sites
as well as continue to recruit and encourage new demonstration sites.
Task: Develop i~~lovative energy saving programs and incentives energy loan
p~•ogla~n}
Task; Encourage energy-efficient technologies in all new construction building and
developn~.ent}
Task: Review and make, when possible, specific energy related recommendations on
significant construction prof ects
Task; Seek publication regarding demonstration sites in tecl~.ical journals and. other
media
Task. Develop and implement an ECC component opportunity to be utilized an any
city owned or assisted construction or renovation prof ect or to be offered to any
p~•ivate construction or renovation project as part of the pe~.~nit process
Task: Paz•tner with area utilities Elk River Municipal Utilities, Coiu~exus Energy, and
Centerpoint Ene~•gy} to enable area residential and co~n~nercial building owners
to participate in utility sponsored energy efficiency and renewable energy
programs,
5. Diversify Ells River's energy base and recognize a continuing goal of decreasing Ells
Ri.ver's overall energy use and energy dependence from non~rene~rable sources
Task: Research and examine when possible the feasibility of current and emerging
energy technologies, such as; hydra, wind, fuel cells, landfill gas, animal waste
to electric, geothermal, etc.
Task: Project Conse~~ve, residential and expanded to floe commercial segment
Tas~~: Ac~~ve~y par~~~er with ENERGY CITY par~zci~an~s such as ERMU, Co~u~exus
and GRE as we11 as other area businesses to reduce the coln~nuni~y's per capita
energy usage
d d gage
Inventory of den~anstra~~on sz~es oppor~~n~~ies and b~~m~ne~~es
Speakers bureau
Teci~nical assistance
Pro~~no~ing new sec ~ZO ogees
ENE~~~ C`z'~~ accom. llshulents and demonstrations Include
1, GRE's RDF fueled Elk River Energy Recovery Station elect~~ic generating punt.
a. Converted to utilize numerous differezat fuels since 1950!
b, Cu~~•ently produces renewable energy fion~ tlae conversion of tlae ca~nmunity's waste
products,
2, Refuse Derived Fuel ~RDF} Processing Plant.
a. Located in ENERGY CITY since 1989
b. Recovers fe~~rous aluminum & provides a renewable power plant fuel.
3, First city to convez•t completely to LED traffic lights,
4, Cona~nercial and residential use of geotl~ennal Heat pumps
5, Energy Houses I X1997}, II X2000}, and III X2005}
a, Energy House I, Gold Medal wi~~.~er at the National Home Builders Association's
convention in 1998
b, Energy Hause ICI, Building Excellence Award at the St~~uctural Insulated Panel
Association Convention ar~d Governor's MN GREAT Award, 2006,
6, The utility-scale wind generator const~•ucted in 2001
7, Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Facility
a, Original plant received the US Enviralunental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane
Outreach Pr ogra~n's proj ect of the year award. in 1998
b, Expanded and much larger Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Power plant received the
Gove~.aor's MN GREAT Award in 2006.
8, Sustainable Buildings Praject
a, As an Energy City Partner, Elk River Area School District was selected as the pilot for
the Sustainable Schools Project, Producing a statewide impact on how schools are built
and run, and gaining national recognition.
9. Twin Lakes Elementary Gold LEED Certified school building in 2006.Ot11er Elk Ruler Area
School District buildings are also sustainable or LEED certified Rogers High School in 2002
arad westwoad Ele~nenta~y in Zimmerman in 2004}.
10. Federally and State Trademarked in 2007
11. An~~ual Conununity Energy Expositions since 2007 focusing on energy conse~•vation education
12. Ells River Library Gold LEED Certified library building.
13 , Photovoltaic whole-House} Demo In Residential Applications.
14, Suppo~~ted cozastruction of a Peaking Plant at the GRE Ells River Campus
15, Elk River Project Conserve
a, 2009 League of MN Cities Award for Sustainability and Energy Use
b, 2009 Recycling Association of MN Green Project of the Year Award
c, Awarded 2010 MN Dept of Commerce Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Block G~•ant ~EECBG}