What a difference a single event can make. I?ve become more optimistic about our nation?s energy future after attending a January 26 meeting (podcast and video available) of RENew Northfield, a non-profit, grassroots group whose mission is ?to lead the Northfield-area community to energy self-sufficiency.? It?s a bold vision, and I would scoff at it if the people involved weren?t so pragmatic and knowledgeable and weren?t already making a decisive impact on their community.
I was attracted to the meeting because of its two topics: a talk on an energy-efficient home that a local business owner recently built and a RENew Northfield program called Northfield Solar Works, which organizes bulk buys of solar equipment. When I arrived at the meeting, it was obvious that its agenda had touched a nerve with others as well. The room was packed, with about three or four dozen people in attendance, and there was a palpable sense of anticipation. It must be the high energy prices, I thought; people must want to keep their energy bills down. The audience looked like they came from all walks of life, from students to professors to farmers.
The meeting began with an introduction by Bruce Anderson, Executive Director of RENew Northfield. He gave a brief history of the group, explaining that it began in 2001 after he wrote a newspaper opinion piece promoting an energy-independent future. He then described some of the group?s projects, especially its work as a catalyst for the two large wind turbine (or windmill) projects in Northfield?the Carleton College wind turbine (the first built by a college), which sits east of town and supplies enough power to meet about two percent of the Northfield area?s electricity needs; and the St. Olaf College wind turbine, which will be located west of town when it is completed later this year.
Anderson went on to describe reasons to move toward an energy-independent future: the opportunity to save money, especially as energy prices rise; the need to minimize carbon dioxide emissions and the effects of global climate change; and the need to find alternative energy sources as oil production most likely declines in the coming years.
Speaker Jesse Streitz, owner of Streitz Heating and Cooling Inc. then spoke about his new home, which will get all of its electricity from solar and wind power; hence, he?ll be off the electricity grid. He described his use of a windmill and photovoltaic solar cells, noting that he is especially impressed with how the solar cells have operated. Streitz conceded that going ?off the grid? is not for everyone, and he described the challenges he has faced with the batteries needed to store electricity. He also described the planning that was necessary to minimize electricity use. He and his wife carefully chose appliances and lighting. The house uses only fluorescent lighting, and Streitz looks forward to even more efficient LED lighting in the future.
As an expert on home heating and cooling, Streitz also made a strong case for the use of heat pumps both ground source and air source heat pumps, even here in the Upper Midwest. Many utilities,he explained, will reduce rates for those who install them. (This usually involves allowing the utility to turn off the pump for short periods during peak demand in summer). He said that many people can cut their heating and cooling bills 75 percent by using heat pumps.
Bruce Anderson then made a presentation on Northfield Solar Works and its goals: educating the public and building trades about the efficacy of solar energy and expanding the market for these technologies. He explained that the timing is good for solar installations?government rebates exist that bring down the cost of installation, and higher energy costs mean the payback period is shorter. Still, he said that solar installation isn?t for everyone, since installation costs are considerable and payback periods run as high as ten to thirty years in the future.
I left the meeting thankful that RENew Northfield exists and realizing that one of my favorite local landmarks?the giant Carleton windmill, that stately presence on our eastern horizon?came about in large measure through grassroots efforts like those organized by RENew Northfield. I was encouraged still more when, a few days later, President Bush discussed funding research into clean- and renewable-energy initiatives. It?s about time the federal government pushed harder towards a new energy future. People at the grassroots level are already doing so.
