Infrastructure gap in Minneapolis public housing

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Walk around the 184-unit Glendale Townhome complex and you probably would not guess it needed an $11 million upgrade (that’s $59,000 per unit). The units don’t look that rundown. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) built them in 1952. Like many of the MPHA’s 1960s-era and early-1970s-era highrises, these townhomes need attention. Much of it is the kind you don’t see. Continue Reading

Students shine green light on garbage burner

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Starting in April 2010, Minnesota Twins fans for the first time in decades will get to experience the sights of outdoor baseball. The open sky, pennants rippling in the breeze, the natural green grass, and … the smokestacks of a giant garbage incinerator? The Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center, or HERC, is a just a long foul ball from the new stadium site. The facility burns household trash to power steam turbines, which generate electricity for about 26,000 homes. Continue Reading

Southeast Como a shining example for solar

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A new report from the Green Institute documents the experience of a group of “solar pioneers” in one Minneapolis neighborhood. The Southeast Como Improvement Association recently assisted 16 homeowners with installing solar thermal water heaters. The group called themselves “solar pioneers” and the Green Institute report’s goal is share the lessons learned with other groups who might want to make the same investment. “We think it’s a great example of what a neighborhood or community group can do to fight global warming,” said Carl Nelson, associate director of the Green Institute. Solar thermal systems capture the sun’s heat the same way a garden hose does on a hot summer day. Continue Reading