Small Cities Explore Sustainable Energy Solutions

"Whether looking to establish a reputation for forward-thinking to attract residents and businesses, hoping to save money on utility bills or wishing to mitigate carbon footprints while creating local jobs, cities across Minnesota are installing green-energy projects," reports Jennifer Vogel. 

"Rural Minnesota is already where much of the state's power is generated. It's home to enormous wind and solar farms, like a new one near the small town of Slayton, and more traditional facilities like Xcel Energy's Prairie Island nuclear plant a few miles north of downtown Red Wing. But a movement toward small-scale solar, wind and biomass tied to particular buildings or clusters of buildings — often referred to as 'distributed generation' — has the potential to change the way we make and get energy."