Save Energy and Stay Cool this Summer

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Interested in saving energy this summer? Home Energy Squad Enhanced is here to help! Formerly called Community Energy Services (CES), the Home Energy Squad Enhanced program, just like CES, is a full service residential energy program designed to make reducing energy use and saving money easy.Our team of trusted energy professionals will install energy saving materials that will help you save money and be more comfortable all year long. Door weather stripping not only keeps out cold drafts in the winter, but also serves as a barrier from that hot, humid air coming into your home in the summer. Swapping out incandescent light bulbs for CFLs or LEDs also helps increase comfort in the summer by reducing the heat being emitted from your lights, cutting down on cooling costs.The visit also includes a blower door test, an insulation inspection and recommendations for additional ways to save energy in your home. Continue Reading

Solar and insulation programs grow

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A quiet revolution is taking place across the rooftops, attics and walls, and community meeting rooms across the Twin Cities. Groups of residents are coming together to make the transition to a clean, efficient, and community-based energy future, working together to save energy and generate clean energy. Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF), a co-op of community members, helps residents work together to cut costs and simplify the process of contracting home efficiency and clean energy improvements. In May 2013, Cooperative Energy Futures is launching four community energy programs across the Twin Cities.The second phase of Cooperative Energy Future’s bulk buying programs is launching May-August, with deadlines for residents and groups of neighbors to sign up by August 15th 2013 and to commit to projects by September 15th, 2013. The four programs currently offered include:The Grow Solar residential solar bulk buy,The Neighborhood Insulation group contracting program,Weatherization Work Parties scheduled by block groups to help neighbors weatherize, andA sign-up process for future community-owned solar projects on community buildingsDetails about these programs can be found at http://cooperativeenergyfutures.com/bulk-buying/, where dates and locations of educational workshops and events where interested residents can learn more will also be posted. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | Minneapolis Energy Options seeks DFL endorsement

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A campaign to secure Minneapolis DFL support for the Minneapolis Energy Options resolution has been building momentum for months. Winning the endorsement at the City convention on June 15th will require at least 60% of the attending delegates voting yes. While Minneapolis Energy Options is non-partisan, the campaign encouraged supporters who identify with any party to attend their precinct caucuses and ward conventions with the goal of the securing endorsement of the ballot initiative. As the DFL is the only party that has not already endorsed that has had caucuses and conventions this year, and as 12 of the 13 City Council members identify as DFL, the convention coming up on June 15th is pivotal. If Minneapolis voters pass the Minneapolis Energy Options ballot initiative it would authorize the City to form a city-owned power utility if it can prove that a municipal system can deliver energy as affordably and reliably as the existing utilities. The authorization to form a municipal utility would provide city council more leverage to negotiate more localized renewable energy from Xcel and Centerpoint in time for the expiration of their franchise agreements in 2014.Getting the DFL endorsement would be a big strategic victory for Minneapolis Energy Options via the DFL sample ballot that is distributed widely to Minneapolis voters. Continue Reading

Groups ask “what will come after ‘peak oil’?”

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Whether it’s challenging each other to see “how low you can go” with the home thermostat in February, or looking at swaths of public turf grass for their potential to hold community vegetable gardens, sustainability and Transition Town groups are popping up all over.Jon Freise, a national trainer on the subject, told a recent gathering that the Transition Towns movement came out of concerns about three things: Climate change—temperature extremes brought on by pollution, “peak oil”—fossil fuels running out, and economic instability.There are many things individuals can do to immediately decrease fossil fuel use and in many cases, save money. There are also macro, policy level things that could be done, but these groups admit those changes will take a lot of elapsed time and perhaps a few more crises. “Transition” refers to transitioning “from oil dependency to local resilience,” says Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement.Sustainability groups, instead of being “apocalyptic,” in the words of one organizer, strive to build a sense of community and hope for an improved quality of life. They do it by both informing individual change and, in some groups, encouraging public officials to pursue broader policy changes or specific infrastructure changes. Freise said Milwaukee Avenue in South Minneapolis is a perfect example. Continue Reading

Spring to summer: Frack sand mining meets fracking

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The spring campaign season against frac sand mining has started to take off. It’s not that we’ve been sitting quietly all winter biding our time. As many town boards and county supervisors can tell you, opposition to frac sand mining in the Driftless region of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa has been churning away for months, but something happened when the ice finally melted and the first Spring Beauties bloomed in the woods. In Minnesota, Representative Matt Schmitt from Redwing introduced legislation to limit sand mining near trout streams. On April 29th, 35 Catholic Workers and friends were arrested in Winona protesting at two frac sand operations. On May 15th, IATP, Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Towns Association released a report raising concerns about the economic impact of frac sand mining in West Central Wisconsin. And coming up on June 1 in Black River Falls, a regional conference called Standing Against the Sand Storm will bring together community leaders and activists from across region to address the growing threat from industrial sand mining and find ways that we can work together. Continue Reading

BBB says GMAX350’s claim of using water for gas a non-starter

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The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning of GMAX350, an alternative fuel system marketed by Gertken Enterprises, which is located in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. On their website (gmax350.net), the company claims people can “start using water for gas.” They have an F rating with the BBB due to a failure to provide requested substantiation of their advertising claims. When contacted by the BBB last year, the company owner declined to provide a response to the BBB’s inquiry. Continue Reading

House, Senate pass omnibus environment, agriculture bill

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Several controversial fee increases were removed during the conference committee process, but the omnibus environment, natural resources and agriculture finance and policy bill still received several hours of criticism on the House floor Saturday evening before being passed by a 71-60 vote. Passed 42-23 by the Senate about 90 minutes later, the bill now goes to the governor.

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