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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
- Solar Energy: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Photovoltaics- Minnesota Real Estate Journal's Energy Summit
Energy Expo Recap...
The third annual Energy Expo was held April 18, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gold LEED Certified Twin Lakes Elementary School and featured Joseph (Joe) Shuster as the keynote speaker. A total of approximately 340 people attended the day's events.
Approximately 150 people attended Mr. Shuster's keynote address and heard his thoughts for methods to solve the Nation's Energy problems by 2040. Mr. Shuster is the author of Beyond Fossil Fools, The Roadmap to Energy Independence by 2040. Other events during the day included:
- exhibits by companies and agencies involved in energy and resource conservation,
- children's programs by Tricia and the Toonies and CLIMB Theatre,
- guided bus tours of Energy City Demonstration sites,
- awards presentations for contests which students of the Charter Spectrum High School have competed in (Energy Innovations and short film "Energy Ennys"),
- Project Conserve Participants' success stories, and
- Prize drawings for (3) $500 gift certificates toward Energy Star Appliances.
Things You Can Do
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]
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]