Townships learn about initiatives; Sleepy Eye wind farm proposed
SLEEPY EYE – Brown County Township Officers learned about the Brown County Initiative, federal energy funds and the Public Building Energy Efficiency Program (PBEEEP) Thursday at their annual meeting at the Servicemens Club.
Ronda Allis, Region Nine Development Commission Community & Economic Development Director and Transportation Planner in Mankato said the Initiative was created to find Brown County collaboration opportunities for economic development and job growth.
A study showed that Brown County is somewhat insulated from big national economic ups and downs due to a strong agricultural base, business diversity, few very large employers, a growing minority population, strong community leadership, good quality of life, a strong work ethic, affordable housing, low crime rates, active community organizations, heritage pride, and day care availability.
Challenges are rising energy costs, aging population, youth out-migration creating a “brain drain,” falling school enrollment, slow new business development and drug and alcohol abuse.
Emerging regional industrial trends were manufacturing, health care, food and agriculture, renewable energy, bio science and high technology.
Renewable energy was selected as the initial project initiative.
Based on the latest data, wind energy chosen as the primary focus due to existing interest shown by private firms discussing proposed wind farm projects with landowners plus county and community leaders.
“Green” energy projects would serve the local population and generate local dollars.
Tax-base sharing criteria being developed that would require special legislation will identify industrial and/or commercial development sites.
Participating jurisdictions would share investment and financial returns.
“Building a wind farm on the former Snow Farm that is now city-owned property on the east side of Sleepy Eye would generate tax money, jobs and benefit everybody,” Allis said. “We’re working with legislators on this initiative, which is being watched closely by other Minnesota counties.”
Milford Township Supervisor Fred Juni said Brown County has a disproportionate number of people who commute into the county for work.
“I’m a life-long resident of Brown County but I’ve learned things about it that I never knew before. It’s really been fun,” Juni said regarding the Initiative.
Southwest Minnesota CERT Coordinator Annette Bair of Slayton talked about federal energy funds for emerging renewable energy industries, weatherization training, energy efficient appliance rebates, community block grants, and the Public Building energy Efficiency Program (PBEEP).
Eligible projects include interior and exterior lighting retrofits, existing building commissioning, building envelope improvements, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and control upgrades and other projects that improve energy efficiency.
Facility Cost-Share Grant Program funds will be awarded to Minnesota school districts and local governments including townships to make energy efficiency improvements to existing facilities.
By Fritz Busch — Staff Writer
The Journal
21 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- Veto of wind energy proposal 'disappointing'
- Senate factors schools back into wind tax
- Expanding wind energy across Minnesota
- Firm seeks wind project near Morgan; Turbines would be in Eden Township
- Shakopee may get wind turbine
- Southern Minnesota schools' windmill windfall is at risk; Tax benefit expiring under new law
The copyright of this article is owned by the author or publisher indicated. Its availability here constitutes a "fair use" as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law as well as in similar "fair dealing" exceptions of the copyright laws of other nations, as part of National Wind Watch's effort to advance understanding of the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development. For more information, click here.
