Northfield's Energy Future: Policy and Practice for the Next Generation February 27, 2006

Energy issues are on the front burner, with high heating and transportation fuel prices, supply concerns, energy security, global climate change, and energy-related environmental issues making headlines daily. Closer to home, Carleton?s wind turbine has demonstrated the feasibility of utility-scale wind development in this area, other local wind projects are in the works, new initiatives to promote building energy efficiency, geothermal and solar technology are soon to be launched by RENew Northfield, and discussion of the possibility of creation of a local municipal electric utility has surfaced on northfield.org and elsewhere.

In addition, the Northfield City Council adopted a resolution on December 5, 2005 committing the City to participation in the international ?Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.? This campaign, with over 650 international participants, including 163 U.S. cities and/or counties, is designed to support municipalities in taking aggressive action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global climate change. Participants are doing so in recognition of the fact that this is both sound environmental policy and sound economic development policy.

You are cordially invited to discuss these and other issues at the next Fourth Monday Forum, ?Northfield?s Energy Future: Policy and Practice for the Next Generation,? from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m. at the Northfield Public Library meeting room on February 27th. The event, co-sponsored by the Northfield League of Women Voters and RENew Northfield, is designed to give area citizens and policy-makers the opportunity to learn about and express their opinions about the area?s future energy supply and distribution options.

Speakers will include Mike Bull (Assistant Commissioner for Renewable Energy, Minnesota Department of Commerce), Michael Noble (Executive Director, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy), and Bruce Anderson (Executive Director, RENew Northfield). Following brief presentations, there will be ample time for a question-and-answer session and audience dialogue.