The program speaker at the Oct. 25 Rotary Club of Edina meeting was J. Drake Hamilton from Fresh Energy. She spoke about "The Economic Power of Clean Energy."
Our two newest members, Sharon Chandler and Sylvester Thomas, were officially inducted into the club.
Two Edina High School students visited our meeting and told us a bit about their time at EHS and future plans.
For more on the meeting click on the link below...
The program speaker at the Oct. 25 Rotary Club of Edina meeting was J. Drake Hamilton from Fresh Energy.
Bob Stehlik did the invocation, quoting inspiring inventor of the battery-powered pacemaker, Earl Bakken.
Tom Cook introduced several guests.
Jody Kern presented new members Sylvester Thomas (sponsor Greg Hanks) and Sharon Chandler (sponsor Dick Teegen).
Steve Buettner presented talented high school students Nicholas Astbury and Cici Orth.
Several announcements were made:
- Sam Thompson, our treasurer, introduced Rotaract President Mark Gasner and active members Scott Hawkins and Nash Faulk. Rotaract already has 20 members!
- Shelly Loberg, International Service Director, spoke about the successful sanitation projects in two African villages.
- David Clynes, Director of The Rotary Foundation, stressed the importance of World Polio Day: 18 cases left in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Kip Peterson gave an extensive board report. The Gala exceeded the target with $ 126,000! Camp Enterprise needs still volunteers. Give Michael Stanzak names for Thanksgiving baskets.
André Brewer introduced our speaker, J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director of Fresh Energy. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical geography from Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota. She is invited for 50 presentations per year to businesses and civic organizations. She ranks among the top 12 climate communicators internationally. Growing organic fruits has won her blue ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair.
J. Drake Hamilton proudly represented the 26-year-old nonprofit organization “Fresh Energy” as Science Policy Director. She reported that the transition to clean energy was science-based data driven. In 2007 Minnesota passed the bipartisan Next Generation Energy Act. The goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in MN 80 percent by 2050. The conservation improvement program has reduced electricity consumption. Minnesota electricity bills are among the lowest in the Midwest. Wind power is the lowest cost electricity generation source in Minnesota. The Next Generation Act has helped MN’s economy.J. Drake represents Fresh Energy at global climate summits and witnessed the historic 2015 Paris Agreement. In August 2015 she and the CEO of Xcel Energy, Ben Fowke, were invited by President Obama to a small group meeting in the White House after the release of the Clean Power Plan with the goal of limiting carbon pollution from power plants.
Fresh Energy policy development influenced wind and solar energy development in Minnesota. In the last 10 years, 70 percent of renewable energy was created in Minnesota. Between 2007 and 2016 the electricity supply stayed even whereas the emissions decreased and a growth in clean energy occurred. In the last 10 years the price of wind energy decreased by 67 percent and the price of solar by 86 percent. There will be a cross over in 2020 when the solar power will be cheaper than wind.
The 10-year goal for carbon-free energy was planned to be 50 percent but is now 80 percent, according to Xcel CEO Ben Fowler. Companies such as General Mills, Target and Best Buy have the goal to decrease the green house emissions of their suppliers by 20-25 percent. J. Drake showcased Minnesota’s nation-leading deep carbon reductions at the 2017 Bonn Climate Summit. Fresh Energy has been involved in development of support for heat and power systems that reduce emissions for industry and housing units and for electric-powered cars and buses. These steps are boosting not only energy efficiency and savings but also the Minnesota economy.
J. Drake answered questions regarding the funding of the organization, which is through companies such as the Bush and McKnight Foundation. Apparently, some of the contributions are proprietary (according to my personal question). J. Drake stressed that every energy has been subsidized in the past and that the subsidies will be lost in 2020.
Theresa Bea Halverson thanked the speaker. John Flynn announced his onetime replacement for the next week’s meeting: past president Bob Solheim and the speaker will be Jill Wenslow from Mall of America.
