The Northfield City Council got a presentation from Minnesota Community Solar. City Administrator Ben Martig explained,”basically what we’re talking about is our City government operations, use of energy, so our city buildings, street lighting, things we have electrical cost on”. There are financial incentives for government agencies through Xcel Energy. And this addresses a Council priority of climate change. Minnesota Community Solar presented a couple of options for the City. Martig said, “one would virtually guarantee a fixed rate of return that we would save over a number of years. The other one’s a
little bit more of a floating one that we potentially have a greater return on investment but also doesn’t provide quite as much protections to the city”. Subscription Manager, Rick Masloski, said estimated savings for the fixed rate, “you get 1.5 cent savings per kilowatt hour and that program gives you an estimated savings over 25 years of just over $1.5 million. the other program is a 1 cent floating option which is virtually no risk”. And an estimated savings of $588,000 over 25 years. EQC Chair George Kinney said at the open mic, “I know this company at least is a local company working in the area and is interested in the community part of community solar. Some of the companies that are out there are only interested in corporate clients”. The entire presentation is on the City’s website. This will come back to council in July. 1 – Minnesota Community Solar City of Northfield Program Summary
Peterson White suggests “analytical dive” to get to an action plan for NAFRS Board
The NAFRS Joint Powers Board continues to evolve as they attempt to work out administrative issues. Last week they voted to move forward with posting for a 30 hour a week Administrative Assistant. The challenge of the Board seems to be the overview of the McGrath Report which was completed last November and highlighted several areas where the consultant felt there could be improvement on the function of the Joint Powers Board. When it was suggested by Chair Castore that they were doing a good job on the items, not everyone agreed. Ex-officio member, Jerry Anderson, then suggested a show of hands as to who was satisfied. Ex officio, Brian Edwards said, “I don’t want to make this complicated but this is a very complicated issue and a simple show of hands whether you agree we’re doing this or not is, I think, is a lot of injustice to this survey or report”. Other members shared some of those same concerns. Dana Graham agreed with member Jessica Peterson White that they use a neutral facilitator to further discuss the administration of the Board. Graham said, “this is going to take discussion not whether I agree with it or not. Because we are doing something, I agree with Castore we are doing some things that are very very good. We need to be better for the future. We have to be forward looking”. Peterson White said, “and I think it would be really great if we could get past the feelings part and move on to some, an analytical information-based dive into what is useful here and what isn’t. And I think that unless we agree about a structure and a series of questions that we’re going to work through together, we’re just going to be sitting here sharing opinions with one another and that doesn’t get us to an action plan”. She reiterated bringing in a facilitator to their July meeting..
NHS debuting WWI exhibit with open house
The Northfield Historical Society opens a new exhibit. Service and Sacrifice: Northfield in the Great War will debut Thursday with an evening reception open to the public from 6 to 8pm. Northfield citizens, like others in the U.S. and throughout Minnesota, watched World War I begin feeling as though it had nothing to do with themselves. But as the war continued, Northfield citizens formed opinions and many answered the call to serve. This exhibit, the first in a series of three, focuses on how the Northfield community was affected by and reacted to the Great War.
