07-21-2004 ECC MIN
MEETING OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE FOR ENERGY
HELD AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2004
Members Present: Sharon Kampa, Rich Huelskamp, Mark Kennedy, Deb Dehn, Gary
Connett, Bill Poppert (via cell phone), Stephanie Klinzing, Ed Stoutenberg,
and Vance Zehringer
Staff Present: Stephen Rohlf and Rebecca Haug
1. Consider July 21, 2004 ACE Agenda
The July 21, 2004 ACE Agenda was approved with the additions of an update on
the Mutual Inspectors Association Tour, purchasing thank you notes, and GRE
peaking plant.
2. Consider June 16, 2004 ACE Minutes
Minutes were approved as submitted.
3. Discuss Solicitation of Funding
NRG & Great River Energy (GRE) have responded that they will solicit funds to
Energy City.
4. Report on Energy Alley
Bill Poppert (via cell phone) reported that the Energy Alley Board received the
letter from ACE and they accepted it. They would like ACE to propose specific
things to Energy Alley such as Energy House III. MEI can use ACE for
conferences and help promote projects. September 16, 2004 will be the next
Energy Alley Board meeting. Bill can serve as a member to both Energy Alley
and ACE.
On September 23, 2004 there will be a CIP Conference at the Earle Brown Center. At this
conference, a report that the CIP Workgroup has been working on will be released. Vance
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will be attending the next CIP workgroup meeting on August 3, 2004.
Erik Pratt, MEI can e-mail ACE members future events. If an ACE member would like to
be on the mailing list, they should e-mail him at epratt@mn-ei.org.
5. Marketing Report
Heidi and Susie have been working together on the pamphlet and website.
A motion was made to spend up to $300 for brochures by Ed and seconded by
Vance. Motion carried.
The high school student who had been working on the website has quit so we will
need to hire someone else.
6. Discuss Energy House III
Sharon informed the committee that a group of ten members has been formed
and the first meeting will be held on July 30, 2004. The State Builders Association will be
giving input. Construction is proposed to begin in the fall of 2005. The Builders
Association would like to keep the house open for two years and would like to make it a
Action Committee for Energy Page 2
July 21, 2004
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known statewide. The City should be able to provide CIP and landfill abatement money.
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) should be able to provide $15,000 if the money is
used for upgrades such as better windows, better insulation, appliances etc. Bill Poppert
suggested going to the Science Museum and touring the Science House/Energy House. The
house was designed by the White Group to be a zero energy house. The house is also on
the Science Museum website. There is a DVD about building an energy efficient house for
builders. It can be purchased from the Department of Commerce. Bill will discuss Energy
House III with the White Group.
7. Discuss Potential Fuel Cell at Haubenschild Farm by Rich Huelskamp
GRE and East Central Electric along with the University of Minnesota who received a grant
from the Department of Agriculture are working on a research project at the Haubenschild
Farm. They will be installing a fuel cell. Bids have been sent out and they are getting a good
response from GE. The plan is to install the fuel cell in September but no later than
October. A sterling engine will be going in at the same time. It was discussed that Energy
City should promote this project by having an event at the farm. Energy City will have to
discuss this with Dennis Haubenschild. Gary offered to discuss it with Dennis.
Vance discussed that RFPs for a Fuel Cell at the Environmental Learning Center have been
sent out. An annual Energy City Day was discussed since eventually new demonstrations
will end. This will be further discussed at a future meeting.
8. GRE Peaking Plant
GRE has a meeting set up with the City of Elk River on Monday, July 26, 2004 to discuss
the Peaking Plant. GRE will also have a similar meeting with Sherburne County.
9. Mutual Inspectors Association Tour
Rebecca informed the Committee that on July 15, 2004, fifty people toured the
Haubenschild Farm, Westwood Elementary School, the Environmental Learning Center,
and GRE. The group was very impressed with the energy savings at the school and the
different ways the city creates energy with garbage.
10. Thank you notes
Bryan Adams offered to purchase thank you notes for Energy City.
11. Schedule next ACE meeting and Identify Agenda Items
It was decided that the next ACE meeting would be held at the Environmental
Learning Center on September 3, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. Items to be discussed include the CIP
Conference, Energy House III, and Haubenschild Farm Fuel Cell.
Respectfully submitted,
Rebecca Haug
Environmental Technician