Greetings!
Welcome to the April edition of the Energy Innovation Corridor e-Newsletter. Thank you for your continued interest in how we are partnering to develop a cleaner energy and transportation future for Minnesota. Questions or comments? Send us an e-mail. |
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Food service businesses get jazzed about saving juice (oh, and money) |
 Did you know that foodservice businesses use two and a half times more energy than the average commercial business? That's a lot of juice. And, that's what brought energy efficiency gurus and nearly 100 folks from a wide variety of food service businesses together for a free energy efficiency seminar. The event provided valuable energy saving information from Richard Young, a nationally recognized leader in the foodservice industry, and from the energy experts of Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. Business located in Minneapolis should look into the City of Minneapolis' zero percent financing for energy efficiency upgrades. Zero waste was made possible (and easy) by Eureka Recycling. Check out the links included to find out how your business can save energy, money and resources.
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A solar thermal first atop Saint Paul RiverCentre |
 District Energy St. Paul started up the Midwest's largest solar installation on March 15. The solar thermal showcase features 144 large-scale, high performance collectors, covering roughly half the size of a football field atop the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The system anticipated peak production of just over 1 MW and has already surpassed this peak within the first two weeks of operation. This installation is the first in the United States to take solar thermal energy from one building and export it for use in other buildings through our existing district hot water system. This showcase offers great visibility to solar and renewables in Minnesota since the installation is visible from within the neighboring Science Museum of Minnesota and the sidewalk of Kellogg Boulevard. This adds another great story to the unprecedented renewable energy district taking shape in Saint Paul and along the Energy Innovation Corridor. Be sure to check out the showcase.
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The EVs are coming, the EVs are coming | |
Check out a variety electric vehicles (EVs) on May 7 and 8 at the Living Green Expo.
Take a test ride, check out charging stations, and learn how renewable energy sources can provide your transportation energy.
Discover how EVs can be part of solving some of our air pollution problems and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. Get plugged in! |
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Perks here, get your perks here | 
Get a Central Corridor PerksCard to save money and support the community. Shop, eat, and get stuff done at participating businesses along the corridor. Get yours today!
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EV charging plan includes EIC | 
Two Energy Innovation Corridor partners, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul, have begun the process of installing electric vehicle charging stations. Many of the stations will fall within the EIC. Four of the stations will be located at the eastern end of the EIC at Union Depot. Read about their efforts in this recent Finance-Commerce article. |
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Any day can be Earth Day - Power Check meters at your library | 
Earth Day is April 22, but you don't have to wait. You can literally check out a Power Check meter from your local library to understand more about your home energy use. In no time, you'll be saving energy and money! You can use the Power Check watt meter with any standard 120-volt appliance or electronic device to:
- Determine the approximate operating cost of appliances and electronics, like refrigerators, room air conditioners and computers.
- Identify your home's high-energy-use appliances.
- Predict your savings in reducing appliance use.
- Calculate the cost savings for replacing older appliances with energy-efficient models.
- Discover your "energy vampires" -- appliances that use energy even when switched off.
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Save money and energy | |
 
Every April we celebrate Earth Day, which is intended to raise awareness of and inspire appreciation for the Earth's natural resources. At CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy we support your goals - Earth Day or any day. That's where energy efficiency and renewable energy options come in. We encourage you to take advantage of our programs and rebates designed to help you save energy and money, and meet your environmental goals.
Free Low Flow Shower Heads and Aerators
CenterPoint Energy is offering free, low flow showerheads and faucet aerators to its residential natural gas heating customers in Minnesota. These free, easy-to-install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators are designed to reduce hot water usage, without sacrificing water pressure. Using just one low flow showerhead and one faucet aerator can save the average family's hot water usage by more than 3,000 gallons in a single year.
Go Renewable
Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards program makes it more affordable for you to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on your home or business. PV electricity generation is a clean and sustainable source of renewable energy. You can also purchase clean wind-generated electricity through the WindSourceŽ program. Businesses and residents can check out the options.
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Thanks for your continued interest and support of the Energy Innovation Corridor - Minnesota's showcase area - making energy-efficiency, renewable energy, smart technologies and transportation a reality.
Sincerely,
The Energy Innovation Corridor Communications Team | |
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By the numbers |
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Achieving economic vitality through carbon avoidance.
Click on the charts for our latest achievements. |
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Register now for Greening Your Business Conference
April 14
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The Greening Your Business Conference, hosted by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, provides the strategies and resources companies need to succeed in the green marketplace and keep pace with customer and societal demands to reduce their environmental impact. Conference attendees will learn about the latest trends in green practices, gain critical knowledge on the topic, and develop key relationships with sponsors and exhibitors who can help prepare their company for a world where profits and the environment are interconnected.
Register now!
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Living Green Expo
May 7 & 8
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Discover how to live better and save money!
The Living Green Expo will showcase a combination of more than 300 exhibitors, workshops, and demos all about the latest in green and sustainable living.
May 7 and 8 at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds.
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About
Energy Innovation Corridor
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Located within one of the most unique urban communities in the country, the Energy Innovation Corridor was formed to create a sustainable energy and transportation showcase. The first-of-its-kind, this clean energy and transportation model extends along the 11-mile Central Corridor light rail transit project route, from downtown Saint Paul to Target Field in downtown Minneapolis, along Washington and University avenues, via the Minnesota State Capitol and entire University of Minnesota-Minneapolis campus.
Visit our website.
Please forward this e-newletter to other interested parties and encourage them to join our mailing list! | |
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| Interested in LRT progress? |
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Sign up with the Metropolitan Council for updates about the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project construction. | |
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