In 2008, the following 5 proposals were funded out of  17 proposals received in the Southeast CERTs region.  

Whitewater Gardens Farm – Alternative Energy Possibilities for Local Food Systems: This project aims to explore multiple ways enewable energy can be utilized to extend the growing season of crops. This will allow local food to be available throughout the year in  Minnesota. The team plans to find the best technologies in the areas of ground source heat pumps, solar thermal heaters, wood boiler systems, wind turbines, photo cells with a battery pack. With a year-round greenhouse and a cold storage cellar, the farm will be able to provide local food to farmers markets and CSAs for a longer period of time. ($4,000)

Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center – Green Markets: Testing Distributed, Perennial Biomass Energy Systems in SE MN: One of Eagle Bluff ELC’s goals is to become carbon neutral in terms of electricity and heat use. One step in getting there is their plan to study the feasibility of using local perennial grasses in the campus’s combine heat and power (CHP) system. The study will also evaluate how harvesting the perennial crops will impact the watersheds, soil, area farmers, and other factors. The project will analyze the economics necessary to make this profitable to farmers, feasible to Eagle Bluff and a replicable model for others to adopt. ($5,000)

Wind Mapping, Wind Resource Mapping for the City of St. Charles: The City of St. Charles is in the planning stages of building 1-3 large wind turbines in the area. The first step is to find the best locations for the turbines. This project will fund a Wind Logics study to scout the hills and plains for prime locations. Through Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) a Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREBs) grant would be utilized for the project. The City of St. Charles is also considering the option of a fourth citizen-owned turbine that could possibly be achieved with the help of the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF). ($5,000)

Olmsted County Solar Initiative: This student-led project aims to install a 4kW solar PV system on the local high school to reduce energy costs, educate students on alternative energy solutions, and also to “act as a pilot project to show that students can lead the way and work with school districts and power companies for sensible energy solutions.” The team is working with Innovative Power Systems for the design and installation of the system. It is estimated that over 30 years their system will offset “over 30,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,800 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 1,440 pounds of nitrous oxide. The system will save the school district at least 5000 kWh annually in energy bills.” ($5,000)

Sun’s Warmth Farm: Biogas Fueled Genset and Solar Thermal: The Sun’s Warmth Farm is an innovative organic farm operation that is off the electric grid via the use of 1.3 kW of photovoltaic panels and a 1.0 kW wind generator. We have converted our back up gas generators to use E85. Another generator runs on a bio-diesel blend.” Their goal is to demonstrate a 100% renewable energy electrical system. To do this, they will need to replace 5 old solar collectors and convert the other back up generator to use pipeline quality biogas from the Haubenschild Dairy Farm. These projects will hopefully be completed before the 2008 National Solar Home Tour in October.($5000

RE-fest: Southeast Minnesota Renewable Energy Fair: A collaborative partnership – among the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center; the Austin, Owatonna, and Rochester Public Utilities; Riverland Community-College Austin; and Austin Coalition for the Environment and Sustainability – seeks CERT support to host the 1st Annual Southeast Minnesota Renewable Energy Fair in September 2008.($5,000)

Winona Senior High School’s Solar Classroom Project: This project seeks to provide an interactive educational solar panel system that would be placed at Winona Senior High School. Beyond the solar panel itself, the project would also include a computer monitor, a web page, and display boards in side the school that would explain the mechanics and physics of the solar panel, how much power is being created, and how much carbon and other greenhouse gases are being offset. Thus the project would help the school both offset energy used in one or two high school classrooms and provide an educational tool for students. ($5,000)

Feasibility Study for Pickwick Mill: With the funds from Southeast CERT the Pickwick Mill non-profit will hire energy consultants and design rofessionals to determine the feasibility of a microhydro-power installation at the falls in Trout Creek. Pickwick Mill also seeks to, upon assessment of feasibility, create plans for turbine installation, implementing a power distribution system, developing educational materials and hosting a community forum to highlight the historic and modern hydropower function and benefits of renewable energy. ($5,000)

Northfield School of Arts & Technology Solar Energy Project: Northfield School of Arts and Technology’s (ARTech) renewable solar energy project will establish an alternative source of energy for the school by installing a grid tied solar system on the school’s premises. ARTech will also use the project to incorporate student-based educational components and jump start student facilitated community awareness partnerships. ($5,000)

Prairie Sustainable Bioenergy Project: The Winona Soil & Water Conservation District (Winona SWCD) seeks funding to study the baseline environmental and wildlife conditions of row crop farmland that will be converted to native grass and forb cover for bioenergy production. The study will measure soil conditions and animal populations before and fter the conversion to native prairie grasses. Winona SWDC intends to use this study as baseline data for larger alternative energy study projects in Winona County. ($5,000)

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