With the Energy Bill being signed this week void of a national Renewable Energy Standard, many Americans are wondering how other policy can help support renewable energy development in rural America. One answer is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP, previously called Section 9006 of the Farm Bill), which provides grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers and rural, small businesses for renewable energy development and energy efficiency improvements.
The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), via the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (U of MN Regional Partnerships) and Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC), seek to provide limited financial assistance for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects requiring technical assistance.
New Law Passed to Advance Community Energy Projects
Next Generation Energy Act Helps MN Farmers and Small Businesses Build Renewable Energy Projects
St. Paul, MN – (5/25/07) Today Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Next Generation Energy Act (SF145), which includes critical provisions that will help rural communities build wind farms, biomass power plants and other renewable energy facilities.
NEW ENERGY: A fresh look at how the Midwest is creating a green energy economy
Windustry has partnered with Twin Cities Public Television and Erika Johnson to tell the story of how wind, biofuels, and other renewable energy technologies are contributing to the region’s energy security, economic sustainability, and integrity of our natural resources.
NEW ENERGY premiered on Sunday, January 7, 2007 on MN TPT Channel 17, and since then it has appeared on:
Each year, WoWE recognizes one woman who is relatively new to the wind energy industry but has already made a significant professional contribution. Reserved for women of all ages who are in the earlier years of their wind careers, the Rising Star Award recognizes unusual professional promise; demonstrated qualities of dedication, innovation, and creativity; and high competence. Through this award, first launched in 2008, WoWE seeks to build awareness of the powerful impact women are making in the wind energy industry at all career levels.
Wind Energy in Higher Education
Case Study: Carleton College Northfield, Minnesota
"Major US Utility Facilitates Citizen Wind Power," Windpower Monthly, May 2006, Vol. 22, No. 5, pp. 29-30. "In an American twist to the European model of community scale wind power development, huge Midwest utility Xcel Energy is facilitating the birth of a broad popular movement in local ownership of small scale wind projects." Windustry executive director Lisa Daniels contributed to this article on the impact of C-BED (Community-Based Energy Development) on wind energy projects in Minnesota.
"Counties Adjust to Wind Energy Developer's Needs," a feature from May 25, 2006 on WBOY Channel 12, NBC affiliate in Clarksburg, WV references Windustry's research on local economic benefits and property taxes. View the print version.
Promising New Crop, by Jill K. Cliburn, Rural Electric, November 2004. A group of 46 farmers in south-central Minnesota hope wind turbines will improve the productivity of their fields; a G&T co-op will buy all 100 megawatts. Rural Electric is the magazine of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
