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Past MRES Board MeetingsMRES Board Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month. These meetings are open to the public — MRES welcomes you to join us! Click here for videos from the presenters. July Board MeetingThursday, July 8, 2010Schedule: 5:30 Pizza and Networking 6:00 Expert Guest Speaker 7:00 Board Meeting Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Parking is available in the lots on either side of the Training Center. Erickson’s hazelnut orchard has over 4,500 bushes ranging from 6 yrs to 1 year old. Norm has recently been inventing machines scaled to local processing of hybrid hazelnuts: a patent application has been filed for the Crack-M-All™ nutcracker, and another is in the works for the Sort-M-All™ nut sizer/sorter. Both machines can be easily adjusted to handle nuts ranging from the smallest hazelnuts to the largest black walnuts. Hazelnuts are a woody perennial bush, similar in appearance to a lilac bush. The nuts are delicious and nutritious, and their high unsaturated fat content earned them a heart healthy designation by the US FDA in 2004. Hazelnuts contain three times the oil content of soybeans, and could turn odd areas on farms into fuel source production plantings for the new era of energy descent, and provide a high value nut and oil crop in the interim. Hazelnut kernels currently retail for about $14 per pound, and oil retails for $1 to $4 per ounce.
Norm Erickson background: Norm worked for IBM 32 years before retiring from Lab Technical Education at 52 in 1992. A few years later he went back to work in a litigation support department for 6 months that turned into 14 years. While on vacation in 2003 he read The Party’s Over by Richard Heinberg, and returned to MN with a Peak Oil powerpoint presentation ready to go on his laptop. It is important to note that the primary motivation for starting the hazelnut farm in 2004 was the concern about peak oil and the energy descent turmoil that lies just ahead. Norm has been a community activist for decades. He wrote a weekly energy and environmental issues column for the Rochester Post Bulletin for most of the nineties, was a leader in the successful campaign to get the local municipal utility to install a new pollution control system on its coal burning power plant, led volunteer buckthorn control projects in Rochester Parks for eight years, is a member of the Emerald Ash Borer early detection team, a MN Tree Care Advisor, had a tree farm for 35 years, designed, sold, and installed solar thermal systems in the early 80’s and taught community education solar classes at the local technical college. A recent initiative by Norm resulted in the MN House designating Lake City, MN as the Hazelnut Capital of Minnesota. An annual fall festival celebration will be developed based on that new city identity. The Erickson’s now sell bare root hazelnut bushes and as potted 2-year old bushes. Hazelnut kernels and hazelnut oil will be available as processing bugs are worked out. June Board MeetingThursday, June 10, 2010Schedule: 5:30 Pizza and Networking 6:00 Expert Guest Speaker 7:00 Board Meeting Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Parking is available in the lots on either side of the Training Center. Jukka Kukkonen will share photos of the vehicles and technologies and give you background information about what models are coming to market, who are the major players, and what approaches are used to bring electric vehicles to fleet buyers and to the general public. We will also talk about the Ford Transit Connect BEV that Ford could build at the St Paul plant in the future and discuss why solar, wind and other renewable energy sources make such perfect marriage with EVs. About the speaker:
May Board MeetingThursday, May 13, 2010Schedule: Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Parking is available in the lots on either side of the Training Center. The goal of the Building America research program at the U.S. Department of Energy is cost-neutral Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) by 2020. After energy conservation measures, cost effective distributed solar energy is a critical requirement to meet this goal. Solar thermal is the most efficient way to collect and use the solar resource; however, present systems are limited by a lack of good storage. Existing storage mechanisms such as the heat capacity of water or earth suffer the disadvantages of low energy density and high heat loss. Several new storage mechanisms such as phase change materials, sorption reactions, and low temperature chemical reactions are being researched to solve these problems. One new storage concept being developed in the Solar Energy Lab at the University of Minnesota is based on the absorption of water vapor by a liquid desiccant (calcium chloride). This absorption mechanism is not subject to thermal loss making it promising for long term storage. Liquid desiccant based storages have the potential to improve energy storage density by 2 – 10 times compared to water. Such compact, long term solar energy storage will enable larger solar thermal systems for heating. Additionally, liquid desiccants can be used for space cooling and energy recovery, further broadening the reach of solar thermal technology. Large solar thermal systems are more cost effective because of the integration of multiple systems and because conventional equipment is significantly downsized – or in some cases – outright eliminated. This talk will focus on solar thermal storage, specifically our work in the Solar Energy Lab and the new solar thermal systems that liquid desiccants enable. Josh Quinnell grew up in the Twin Cities and graduated with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from University of Minnesota in 2005. As an undergraduate, Josh teamed with fellow students to start the local UMN Engineers Without Borders chapter. In 2008 Josh completed his M.S.M.E. working on regeneration in Stirling engines for deep space power applications. In 2008-2009, Josh participated in the UMN Solar Decathlon as engineering team leader and made contributions to the envelope design, the solar thermal system, and energy modeling aspects of the project. Currently, Josh is a PhD candidate in the M.E. Dept. working on solar thermal storage using liquid desiccants. April Board MeetingThursday, April 8, 2010Schedule: 5:30 pm - Networking and pizza Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Parking is available in the lots on either side of the Training Center.
· Who SAGE Electrochromics is and their market. · The SAGE manufacturing processes. · SAGE future applications and international opportunities. · The use of their product for 2009 UMN Solar Decathlon House. Jeremy Kaeding is SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. National sales manager serving commercial building owners, architects and contractors. Leaders in Electrochromic technology for more than 20 years, SAGE manufactures electronically tintable glass products that are available to the international architectural building market.
Kaeding works closely with SAGE’s regional sales managers, customers and manufacturer’s representatives throughout North America, along with the company’s national executive team. Based in Minnesota, he draws from more than 16 years of experience supporting building owners’ material and performance needs. Most recently, Kaeding served as vice president of sales at Daylight Designs, Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn. The Midwestern company specializes in engineering and installing commercial skylight systems including one-of-a-kind creations for office renovations and newly constructed community facilities.
Before entering the glazing industry, Kaeding earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. Following graduation, he worked in commercial sales for Carrier Corporation. While there, he called on building owners and engineers in need of heavy chillers for their commercial and industrial HVAC systems. “Throughout my career, I’ve sought out innovative companies that offer building owners well-designed, energy-efficient products,” says Kaeding. “It is an especially exciting time to be a part of SAGE as we define the future of glass.” Whether fabricated as part of a window or curtainwall system, SAGE’s electronically tintable glass switches at the push of a button from a clear, untinted appearance to a highly tinted, darkened state. This actively controls daylight, heat gain and glare, while maintaining the view to the outdoors.
SageGlass products’ dynamic functionality helps reduce energy bills by controlling solar heat gain and increase worker productivity by allowing additional daylighting, minimizing glare, and enhancing occupant comfort. For these reasons and more, SAGE’s innovative products were honored among the Top 10 Green Building Products of the year by Environmental Building News and showcased at the 2006 GreenBuild conference, and Building Operating Management Top Products of 2010. SAGE is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and Kaeding is part of the Mississippi Headwaters chapter. He also represents SAGE at the American Institute of Architects’ events and as a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and the Construction Specifications Institute.
Outside of his professional roles, Kaeding volunteers as a soccer coach with a traveling club for 14- to 18-year-olds and enjoys time with his wife and their twin, three-year-old son and daughter.
To learn more about SAGE, its products, please call 877-724-3321, or visit www.sage-ec.com. March Board MeetingThursday, March 11, 2010Schedule: 5:30 pm - Networking and pizza
Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Directions: Enter Ford Plant parking lot on North side from intersection of So. Mt. Curve Blvd & Ford Parkway Coming from Minneapolis: Coming from the east of downtown Saint Paul: From the Cretin/Vandalia exit: Parking at the Training Center: February Board MeetingThursday, February 11, 2010Schedule: 5:30 pm - Networking and pizza Location: UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center For Map - click here Directions: Enter Ford Plant parking lot on North side from intersection of So. Mt. Curve Blvd & Ford Parkway Coming from Minneapolis: Coming from the east of downtown Saint Paul: From the Cretin/Vandalia exit: Parking at the Training Center:
Bios: Bryan Horvat is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a General Management minor. He is currently a member of the Mechanical team designing the brake system for the new car, Centaurus II.
January Board MeetingThursday, January 14, 2010Schedule: 5:30 pm - Networking and pizza Location: Flannery Construction1375 St. Anthony Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104Mike Bull is Senior Resource Analyst at Xcel Energy. In that position, Mike is responsible for strategic evaluation of resource alternatives to meet customer demand in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Prior to coming to Xcel Energy, Mike was Regional Policy Manager for Wind on the Wires, the Midwest regional partner for the American Wind Energy Association. Mike also has held a number of positions in Minnesota state government, including Senior Policy Advisor for Energy & the Environment for Governor Tim Pawlenty, Deputy Director of the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and Assistant Commissioner for Renewable Energy at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. In those roles, Mike helped to develop and implement a number of Minnesota’s nation-leading renewable electricity and bio-fuel programs. Mike also acted as staff co-chair of the Midwestern Governors Association energy steering committee to develop and implement the MGA Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform (2007). Mike earned a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1993, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in 1994. December Board Meeting and Board ElectionsThursday, December 10, 2009Schedule: 5:30 pm Pizza, Networking Location: Board Elections will be held from 6:15-6:45 pm. If you are a member, please come and vote, your participation is crucial! Candidate bios will be in the December Solar Flare. At 6:30pm we will begin a rousing game of Solar Jeopardy! Orginially created for the stage at the Eco Experience, it was so popular it's been requested again. It will be hosted by its creator, Loren Abraham. We are looking for people knowledgable in solar to participate, please email laurac@mnrenewables.org with why you think you'd be a good Solar Jeopardy contestant! There will be prizes! Past Board meetings and guest speakers. November Board MeetingThursday, November 12, 20095:30 pm - Networking and pizza 6:00 pm - Expert guest speaker for evening 7:00 pm - Board of directors meeting Flannery Construction, 1375 St. Anthony Avenue , St. Paul, MN, 55104 Born and raised in Northfield and a St. Olaf graduate, Rep. David Bly is currently serving his second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He serves on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division, the Energy Finance and Policy Division, and the Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division. Bly is the chief author of the Renewable Energy Payments bill (Feed-in Tariff), which would spur growth in distributed energy generation, create jobs and help meet Minnesota's renewable energy standard.
October Board MeetingThursday, October 8, 2009Notice: Change of timeline for MRES board meetings 5:30 pm - Networking and pizza Flannery Construction, 1375 St. Anthony Avenue , St. Paul, MN, 55104 Minnesota has needed a concerted voice for the entire solar industry and the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) has formed recently to meet that need. Lynn Hinkle, MnSEIA’s new Director of Policy Development will discuss how MnSEIA will help grow the Minnesota solar market in a process that already includes installers, manufacturers, utilities, contractors, labor, and public entities. Lessons from other state SEIAs, notably Colorado (CoSEIA), and the link to SEIA’s (Solar Energy Industry Association's) well developed national policy framework will be highlighted. MnSEIA will be presented as a key to Minnesota’s solar industry realizing its potential as a major solar center nationally. Well known members of MRES, Ralph Jacobson, Doug Shoemaker and Jan Hubbard, who are also MnSEIA Board Members, will join in sharing their vision for MnSEIA and their roles in its formation. Lynn Hinkle is a visible advocate of the new energy economy and has an on-the-ground knowledge of solar manufacturing development and large building projects that successfully incorporate energy efficiency with solar energy installations.
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