Our Mission

MRES is a catalyst, equitably advancing a sustainable low-carbon society
and a renewable energy economy through education, leadership and example.

April Speaker Series

The American Solar Grazing Association and Agrivoltaics

Stacie Peterson, Executive Director of the American Solar Grazing Association, will speak about the co-location of agriculture and solar, also known as agrivoltaics, and the work of the American Solar Grazing Association, which works to support and promote solar grazing throughout the country. She will also show a 5-minute short film promo for the ASGA documentary Pastures and Panels, which features Minnesota’s Cannon Valley Graziers.

About the Speaker

Stacie Peterson, PhD
Executive Director
American Solar Grazing Association

Stacie Peterson is the Executive Director of the American Solar Grazing Association. She is a nationally recognized leader in agrivoltaics and previously served as the Director of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse and Director of Energy Programs at the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). She has developed and led national, regional, and state-level energy programs that engage communities, support rural businesses, and provide vital education and technical assistance.

March Live online presentation

Thursday, April 17th @ 6:00pm

New!
As of March 2025, you will need to register for the monthly Speaker Series.
Simply provide your name and email and you will be emailed a link to join the Zoom presentation.

Questions? Contact eleanor@mnrenewables.org

Green Rock Apartments Transform Multifamily Housing from Old to Sustainable: A Guide for Property Owners

Dale Howey, in six years, has transformed his Green Rock Apartments into a model of carbon-neutral housing. Howey, a Minneapolis owner/renovator, has completed eight multi-unit building retrofits. The physical improvements, coupled with enhanced livability amenities, have dramatically reduced each building’s utility usage/cost of energy, increased owner profits, and improved livability for residents. Most importantly, the retrofits have significantly reduced the use of fossil fuels, and thus contribute toward lowering the world’s extreme carbon emissions.

Howey’s intention is to open-source his unique retrofit approach so that others may gain ideas, inspiration, and guidance. To that end, the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, in collaboration with Green Rock Apartments, has produced a detailed guide documenting Howey’s projects, noting the carbon-reducing products used, retrofit project financing, key contacts and sources for further research. The following guide highlights four Green Rock Apartment buildings in Minneapolis, MN that have been retrofitted to near zero carbon by Howey. These retrofits have greatly lowered utility usage, increased owner profits and have improved livability for Residents. Most importantly, these retrofits significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels to further lower the world’s extreme carbon emissions.

Read the full guide