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Welcome to Elk River Energy City!
Elk River has been known as "Energy City" since 1997 when the Minnesota Environmental Initiative chose it from over 30 other applying communities to act as a geographical focal point for the demonstration of efficient and renewable energy products, services, and technologies. We help to demonstrate the power of efficient and renewable energy. Explore our web site to find out how you can become a part of this exciting initiative.Upcoming Events
Fourth Annual Energy Expo on Feb. 27, 2010 [read more]Things You Can Do
Need a new appliance? There may be a rebate in it for you!If you are considering buying a major appliance any time soon, effective March 1, 2010, the State of Minnesota will be offering rebates for purchasing Energy Star appliances. This is a limited time offer because the State has received a 5 million dollar grant from the President's economic stimulus fund to promote energy efficiency. The State set up an Energy Star appliance rebate program, which they say will create 59 jobs, and annually save 2,200,412 kWh of electricity, 43,729,920 gallons of water, and 4,705,065 pounds of carbon (CO2)! The fund will be offered first come, first served to the first 25,000 purchases. The rebates are quite generous and it also includes an incentive to recycle your old ones as follows:
Clothes washers ($200)
Dishwashers ($150)
Freezers ($100 with purchase and proof of recycling, $50 for purchase only)
Refrigerators ($200 with purchase and proof of recycling, $100 for purchase only)
These rebates will be in addition to what Elk River Municipal Utilities already offers!!
Tax Breaks for Energy Efficiency...UPGRADE NOW!!
Congress passed an economic stimulus to promote energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes for 2009 and 2010. There is a cap of $1500 (raised from $500) to be recovered via tax credits for such home improvements as home envelope improvements, heating, cooling, and water heating equipment purchases. The way the incentive works is that you receive 30% of the cost of the installation up to the $1500 cap. Previous IRS rulings do NOT allow labor costs to be included, but current legislation is unclear on the topic.
A new feature for tax credits is no cap on the tax incentive for establishing on-site renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat pumps, small wind systems, and solar photovoltaic or hot water systems. This incentive also allows you to receive 30% of the total installation cost.
There are also provisions for alternative vehicles such as plug-in electric vehicles or for conversion kits.
Project Conserve! (A new Energy City Pilot Project)
Project Conserve is an initiative designed to demonstrate to the nation that Elk River is serious about conserving our precious natural resources. Project Conserve intends to establish money saving techniques regarding energy, solid waste, and transportation through "reduction." Participants could potentially save at least $400 in the first year without major lifestyle changes.
[find out more]
Project Conserve in the News
Family gains awareness about conservation, Star News, November 25, 2009
Project Conserve: Savings seen in utilities, NorthwestEye, November 25, 2009
We Challenge You to "Change a Light, Change the World"
This fall, Americans are challenged to change five standard light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) during the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign. Not only will this reduce household energy bills, the savings will also have a huge multiplier effect. [find out more]