Past MRES Board Meetings

January Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

*The role of Public Utility Commissioners and how it is different from her former role as a State Senator.

*Drivers of change in the energy world that she has identified, including  aging and obsolete  infrastructure and the need for investment, shale gas, climate change,   EPA regulations and possible coal retirements, bringing renewables up to scale, FERC/state relationships, and the economy.

*Lessons learned from the recent Minnesota-Germany renewable energy policy exchange in which she participated.

Biography:
Ellen Anderson currently serves on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.  She was appointed Commissioner and Chair by Governor Mark Dayton on March 28, 2011.  She is a member of the National Association Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).  Her term expires on January 2, 2017.

Chair Anderson served in the Minnesota Senate from 1993–2011.  She chaired the Energy and Telecommunications Committee and Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Finance Committee and authored numerous energy and consumer protection laws, including Renewable Energy Standard and Community Based Energy Development (CBED) laws.

Ellen has a B.A. degree from Carleton College and J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School.  She was an Adjunct faculty member at Metropolitan State University and University of Minnesota.

Chair Anderson has served in numerous leadership and community volunteer positions and received dozens of awards for her leadership in energy, environment, and other issues. 

Annual Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Year in Review Presentation by Managing Director, Laura Cina
6:30 pm - International Committee Presentation

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

We'll also be hearing from MRES member Fran Crotty about the MRES International Committee's members' plans to travel to Kafanchan, Nigeria to install a solar array on a hospital as part of the MRES Light Up Africa Project. The solar modules will provide electricity to power efficient LED lights in the children’s ward at the hospital. Installation will occur over several days, allowing local people to be trained by the MRES volunteers on how to install a solar lighting system. It'll also be a great opportunity to reflect and wind down after another year of progress for MRES and it's supporters.

November Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

Bios:

For many years Rey and myself, Patrick Hyland, have seen the need for renewable energy.  We have explored many options for our business, but many times the options that were feasible were not very practical.  After doing much research on concentrated solar power it was obvious that for most applications it is the most practical and efficient way to collect solar energy.   However the availability of concentrated solar power was somewhere between very little and nonexistent.  Then we came across Solartron Energy Systems and they made a unit called the SolarBeam Concentrator that was not only efficient but affordable. Following much correspondents, being trained by the manufacturer, and having our own unit up and running for quite some time we can see that concentrated solar power is very efficient and reliable.  We look forward to informing the public on the SolarBeam Concentrator and helping them see what a great solar collector the SolarBeam Concentrator is, and the many advantages that concentrated solar power has over conventional solar collectors.

Work/Experience History

Rey Sepulveda has vast experience in diagnostic and repairs of industrial chillers and stationary power generators. Has worked for 20 years in the field of diagnostic and repair of complex control systems incorporating potentiometers, thermistors, temp/pressure switches, p.w.m solenoids, stepper motors, analog to digital converters, optical sensors, micro processors, etc.. Certifications include ASE Master Technician, MACS certified for handling refrigerant. Has been certified for fire guard and torch operator in New York State. Has 20 years of experience in welding including arc(stick), mig, gtaw(tig) aluminum, mag, ss, etc., oxy acetylene and plasma cutting processes. Has much experience in fabrication and general construction.

Patrick Hyland has 12 years of experience in industrial structural construction. Has coordinated and overseen multi-million dollar projects for wastepaper management operation. He has seven years plumbing experience some of which includes installing high-efficiency power vent boilers. Has had thousands of hours of experience operating heavy equipment i.e. bulldozer, pay loader, skid steer and back hoe etc. Has more than 5 years of sales and service experience. He currently is co-owner of Bruce Valley Garage.

October Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

Bio:

John Farrell directs the Energy Self-Reliant States and Communities program at ILSR and he focuses on energy policy developments that best expand the benefits of local ownership and dispersed generation of renewable energy.  His latest paper, Democratizing the Electricity System, describes how to blast the roadblocks to distributed renewable energy generation, and how such small-scale renewable energy projects are the key to the biggest strides in renewable energy development. 

Farrell also authored the landmark report Energy Self-Reliant States, which serves as the definitive energy atlas for the United States, detailing the state-by-state renewable electricity generation potential.  Farrell regularly provides discussion and analysis of distributed renewable energy policy on his blog, Energy Self-Reliant States (energyselfreliantstates.org), and articles are regularly syndicated on Grist, Renewable Energy World, and CleanTech.

John Farrell can also be found on Twitter @johnffarrell, or at jfarrell@ilsr.org.

September Speaker Meeting

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

Thor Bjork  Senior Analyst, Enterprise Customer Strategy, Xcel Energy

Thor is a Senior Analyst in Enterprise Customer Strategy at Xcel Energy. He works to identify and integrate technology that will engage our customers and empower them to help improve system reliability, reduce our environmental impact, reduce costs and improve safety. Prior to joining Enterprise Customer Strategy in 2011, he worked in Utility Innovations, Geographic Information Systems and IT Operations at NSP/Xcel Energy beginning in 1999. He received bachelor degrees in Biology and Geography from Gustavus Adolphus College.

August Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center
(at the Ford Plant)
966 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116

Click here for a map

Brian Millberg is the Energy Manager for the City of Minneapolis, and is responsible for ensuring that the City's internal operations meet the goal of 1.5 percent in greenhouse gas reductions every year. His work includes lighting and HVAC retrofits to the City's buildings, as well as operating changes that conserve energy. Prior to working at the City, Brian was an Alternative Energy Stock Analyst, Operations Manager for a local solar installer, and spent 20 years in the medical device business. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in the state of MN.

July Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

Anne Hunt will discuss the Central Corridor Solar projects funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the MN Department of Commerce.  Nina Axelson will talk about District Energy's successful new 1 Megawatt Solar District Thermal project funded by DOE's Solar Market Transformation program.

A bit about District Energy's Solar Thermal Project:
In March 2011, District Energy St. Paul launched the Midwest’s largest solar thermal installation atop the Saint Paul RiverCentre.  The system hosts 144 flat-plate, high performance collectors, with a system peak of 1.2 MW (thermal equivalent).  The solar thermal project was made possible through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar America Communities program in partnership with the City of Saint Paul, the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Division of Energy Services. The City of Saint Paul secured a $1 million DOE Market Transformation grant matching $1.1 million in funding from District Energy St. Paul.  It is the first of its kind in the country, serving both the Saint Paul RiverCentre heating load, and exporting excess heat into the district energy hot water system that serves 80% of downtown Saint Paul.

www.solarsaintpaul.com
www.districtenergy.com
 

Anne Hunt’s Bio:
Since January 2006, Anne Hunt has served in a new position, created by Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, as the City’s first Sustainability Coordinator. Anne has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management and community organizing.  Her work for the City of Saint Paul has focused on policies and programs that: encourage energy-efficiency and conservation; development of clean and renewable energy technologies; and alternative transportation options to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; promote resource conservation through recycling and waste reduction; improve water quality; and strengthen habitat for wildlife in a built environment.  Anne recently received ICLEI’s 2010 Sustainability Leadership Award for Local Government Staff.
 

Nina Axelson Bio:
Nina Axelson is a Director with District Energy St. Paul and was the project manager for the District Energy Solar Thermal Project.  Nina manages project development, communications, community education and customer relations for District Energy and its affiliates.  She studied Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at the University of Minnesota. 

June Speaker Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Location:

Mike and Martha will share experiences from their journey as well as expanded vision for the future.  Topics to be covered include:

·         Solar Cooking

·         Reducing the global soot print

·         Producing more CO₂ recycling inventions,

·         Growing more food

·         Supplying solar reading lights to areas without power

All the above might include a few politically incorrect statements thrown in for good measure.

May Board Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

In 2005 Despatch developed its first infrared firing furnace for use in solar cell manufacturing. These new products quickly established Despatch’s solar industry reputation for technology leadership an innovation and set the company on the way to becoming the leading provider of thermal and processing equipment for advanced photovoltaic production. The presentation provides an overview of the companies journey, its products and its view of the solar cell manufacturing industry today and in the coming years.

Bio:

John Farrell, Managing Director  – Solar Business Unit
John Farrell joined Despatch in 2010. As Managing Director of the Solar Business Unit he is responsible for leading the growth of the company’s solar business and overseeing solar strategy, product and technology development, engineering and the company’s Global Service Network (GSN). Prior to joining Despatch, he worked at Applied Materials for over 14 years where he held various business positions in their semi conductor and solar business segments including Director of Business Management Asia for the Etch product business group and most recently as Director of Business Management for the thin film solar products group. He has also held engineering positions with the Kenwood Corporation in Yokohama Japan and Peninsula Wireless Communications. John holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.

April Board Meeting

Schedule:

5:30 pm - Networking and Chipotle
6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker
7:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting

Significant reductions in the cost of generating electricity from solar energy can be achieved with inexpensive polymeric mirror films in concentrating photovoltaic designs. 3M makes the world’s most reflective mirror films, and the only thermoformable wavelength selective mirror films which enable new to the world low cost solar concentrator designs. 3M micro-replication technology can also be used to capture more light into a photovoltaic module thus increasing it’s power output.  3M Ultra-Barrier Films seal out water better than any other transparent films and thus enable new flexible photovoltaic module designs.  These solar products require extreme UV stability, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, easy cleanability, and special adhesives.

Bio:

Tim Hebrink, Lead Research Specialist in 3M Corporate Research Lab, graduated from the University of Minnesota in Chemical Engineering, and has 26 years polymer product development experience at 3M.  His expertise in polymer properties and polymer processing has earned him 32 patents covering novel optical polymers, optical film designs, and polymer films with improved properties.  Polymer films covered by his inventions have enabled greater than $5billion in 3M sales over the last 12 years, and have resulted in 6 Golden Step Awards for products achieving sales greater than $15million/year.  He has been generating electricity with photovoltaics at his home and developing CPV designs with mirror films for 10 years.