This initiative is designed to allow Northfield residents to take advantage of bulk buy discounts for purchasing solar panels as a group with other residents. The first households installed solar panels in 2013, and the program will be continuing in 2014. In the news: Northfield News article
Contact: Charles Stark, cps@deskmedia.com
Aided by momentum from community organizations like ReNew Northfield, Carleton installed its first, 1.65-MW wind turbine in 2004, a 1.65 MW Vestas V87. The electricity produced by the first turbine is sold back to our energy provider Xcel Energy, and provided to the public utility grid.
Carleton’s second wind turbine is a 1.68 MW GE XLE, built in 2011 thanks to a generous grant in 2008 from environmentally-minded alumni Richard and Laurie Kracum. The second turbine is connected directly to the campus grid and provides approximately 25% of Carleton’s annual electricity consumption.
Each turbine produces 4,000- 4,500 MWh of electricity per year.
A local initiative that aims to persuade the Minnesota Legislature to lift a 2001 Legislative Moratorium on state discussion/study of the Northfield-Minneapolis ‘Dan Patch’ Passenger Rail Line, an extant rail line between Northfield/Fairbault and the Twin Cities. (Web site under development: February 2014).
The threatened 1888 Union Pacific depot must be moved or it will be torn down. Save the Northfield Depot aims to restore this station to its former glory as the centerpoint of a local transportation hub. The organization must raise $293,000 to move and renovate the depot by summer 2014 to assure its preservation. Over $100,000 has been raised so far, but there remains a $193,000 gap that needs to be met.
Donations can be made using the “Donate Today” button to the right or by mailing a check to Save the Northfield Depot, 712 4th St. E., Northfield, MN 55057. Questions and offers of in-kind materials/labor donations are also welcome and accepted at info@northfielddepot.org.
Project Description:
The Farm Bike Tour is an annual celebration in September of Northfield food, farms and community. There is an abundance of sustainable agriculture in the immediate Northfield area. The bike tour aims to get students, local businesses, community members, and college alumni connected with healthy lifestyles and local farms. This bike tour is a free event that raises awareness of the local food scene and build bridges between different areas of the Northfield community. The entire route is usually around 18-20 miles and visits local farms, as well as both Carleton and St. Olaf campuses.
Want to get involved? Join the planning committee. Volunteering is a 10-20 hour commitment over 7 months (March-September), it is a wonderful way to be a part of the event!
Additional information: http://farmbiketour.wordpress.com/event-information/
Contact: Kelly Scheuerman (kscheuer@carleton.edu)
Project Description:
Organized by the U of M extension service, over twenty members of the Northfield community (including six Carleton students) toured 5th Season Co-op in Viroqua, Wisconsin last November. From this day long event formed a food hub working group that began investigating the feasibility of creating a Food Hub in Northfield. A group of dedicated students researched the project for their senior comps and presented the material to the community last April. The group plans to start meeting again in October of 2013 to discuss next steps.
Student Research Food Hub Comps Report
Student researchers: Sophie Daudon, Kristen Dooley, Casey Silver (Carleton College)
Contact: Marcea Frazier, marcea5@northfieldwifi.com
This project is in the planning stages to explore the possibility of building an anaerobic biodigestor in Bridgewater Township. The digester would turn organic waste from local industry such as MOM brands and Faribault Foods into compressed natural gas that can be turned into fuel for vehicles. In the news: Northfield News article
Contact: Glen Castore