5.3. SR 03-12-2007
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
Worksession March 12, 2007
Item Description
Discuss Ener Ci Desi
Item Number
5.3.
Prepared by
Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Reviewed by
Introduction
Mayor Klinzing has asked that this item be on the agenda so that the Council may discuss the Energy City
designation that the city is currently seeking from the State.
Discussion
Mayor Klinzing will lead this item with participation from several Energy City representatives who plan to
be at the meeting.
FinanciallmDact
N/A
AUachments
. Elk River, Minnesota's Energy City written by Stephen Rohlf for the Energy City Commission
Action Reauested
None required.
Council Action
Motion by _
Second by _
Vote
Follow Up
S:\Council\Lori\2007\Energy City discussion.doc
Elk River, Minnesota's Energy City
About Elk River Energy City
Energy City, based in Elk River, is a group of environmentalist, businesses, energy
related industries, and governmental entities united in the belief that the production and
consumption of energy is the number one environmental issue facing the world today and
determined to be part of the solution. Further, it is believed that the solutions to this
environmental issue have to make economic sense to be sustainable.
Major Energy City Partners
. CenterPoint Energy
. City of Elk River
. ECONAR Energy Systems
. Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce
. Elk River Area School District 728
. Elk River Ford Dodge Jeep
. Elk River Landfill
. Elk River Municipal Utilities
. Great River Energy
. Resource Recovery Technology
. Sherburne County
. Suburban Northwest Builders Association
History of Elk River Energy City
1994 - Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) created Energy Alley (a concept based
on Medical Alley's success in Rochester) to promote Minnesota's energy businesses
(Minnesota is second in the nation to only California for the number of energy related
companies)
1995 - MEI conducted a statewide search for a stand alone city to act as Energy Alley's
geographical focal point for demonstrating energy efficient and renewable energy
technology, services and products
1996 - The City of Elk River was selected to be Energy City. The reasons Elk River was
selected were:
1. Its history acting nroactivelv regarding environmental issues. Elk River has
numerous environmentally sensitive industries, which it learned to regulate for the
protection of its citizens while maintaining the attitude of allowing business to do
business
2. Its history of energy related issues. e.g.
. Hydropower dam completed in 1916 bringing electrical power to Elk River
. Home of the world's first rural nuclear power plant (built in 1960)
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. First fully decommissioned nuclear power plant in the world (decommissioned in
1965)
. Refuse derived fuel processing plant (built in 1988)
. Refuse derived fuel power station (built in 1988)
3. Its demonstrated ability to get community leaders. other governmental entities.
and local businesses to work together in SUDDort of being Energy City
2004 - Energy Alley is dissolved, but Energy City continues on spirited by the
commitment of its partners and the financial backing of the City of Elk River
2005 - Energy City becomes a City of Elk River Commission
2007 - Energy City gains state approval to trademark its logo and the name "Energy
City"
2007 - Representative Thomas Hackbarth and Senator Michael Jungbauer coauthor a bill
to designate Elk River as "Minnesota's Energy City"
Energy City Demonstrations
Energy City has gained a critical mass of energy demonstration by providing technical
assistance, monitoring, expert third party analysis, promotion, and a common location to
showcase energy efficient and renewable energy technologies, products and services.
Energy City demonstrations have a chance to succeed or fail both environmentally and
economically.
Some of the more notable Energv Cities demonstrations to date have included:
. Energy Houses I, II, and III (Energy House I was a Gold Metal winner at the
National Home Builders Association's convention in 1998)
. Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Facility (US Environmental Protection Agency's
Landfill Methane Outreach Program's project of the year in 1998)
. Energy efficient traffic lights
. Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant and Power Station
. Commercial use of geothermal heat pumps, recovery ventilators, and energy
efficient lighting (Elk River Energy City is the corporate home of the largest
geothermal manufacturer in the Midwest)
. Full scale wind generator
. Sustainable Buildings Project (as an Energy City Partner, Elk River Area School
District was selected as the pilot for the Sustainable Schools Project, which will
have a statewide impact on how schools are built and run, and has gained national
recognition)
. Photovoltaic Demonstrations
Education
Elk River Energy City has added an additional focus beyond demonstrations. It is
dedicated to educating the public regarding wise energy decisions. Throughout the years,
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numerous tours of Energy City have been given to a variety groups ranging from
Minnesota's school children to engineers and architects from Russia. After touring the
actual demonstration sites, the Environmental Learning Center at the Elk River Landfill
may be used to provide a traditional classroom setting to impart more detailed
information. Sherburne County, Waste Management and the Elk River Municipal
Utilities cooperated in building the Environmental Learning Center for this sole purpose.
Another example of its educational efforts is on Saturday, April 21, 2007, Elk River
Energy City will host its first annual Energy Expo. Paul Douglas, the Chief
Meteorologist from WCCO- TV, is the keynote speaker and will focus on global
warming.
Elk River Energy City's Future
Elk River Energy City is certainly unique in Minnesota and possibly the nation and the
world. Elk River is a community that has embraced the issues associated with energy and
what they mean to our environment and economy. Elk River Energy City is also
committed to being part of the effort toward finding solutions to the environmental
problems associated with energy.
With or without the State's official designation as "Minnesota's Energy City", Elk River
Energy City will continue because of the commitment of this community and the resolve
of its partners to the critical issues related to energy. However, the State's designation
will add recognition and credibility to its efforts. Efforts that will not demand anv state
funding.
In return, Elk River Energy City will continue to be an example of what can be, if we
have the will. Committed to its State given identity, Elk River Energy City will continue
to strive to diversify its electrical generation and be the most energy efficient community
in the state regarding all types of energy. This will be accomplished through efforts to
educate all sectors of the public and the creation of innovative programs that will be
transferable to other communities throughout the state.
Minnesota has always led the country on environmental issues. Having its own "Energy
City" shows Minnesota's continued commitment to environmental excellence.
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