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133rd Airlift Wing named Clean Energy Community Award Finalist

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lynette Olivares
  • 133rd Airlift Wing
ST. PAUL, Minn. --  The 133rd Airlift Wing was named one of eight finalists for the Minnesota Commerce Clean Energy Community Award during an announcement at the 2016 Minnesota State Fair here, Aug 28.

The award recognizes the work done by communities to advance the state's clean energy goals by implementing the Minnesota Department of Commerce programs, policies, and technologies.

"This award is an apex of energy conservation efforts of everyone in the wing," said Capt. Fernando Nacionales, 133rd Civil Engineering Squadron, Deputy Base Civil Engineer and Energy manager. "We have come a long way in improving our energy efficiency, but we still have a ways to go with achieving energy resiliency."

The 133rd Airlift Wing has been a leader in practicing energy efficiency.  Maximizing on education and leveraging large operations to realize greater efficiency are just a few things that have helped the unit lead the way in their energy efforts.   

"The communities and organizations have played a big role in achieving these goals," said Bill Grant, Deputy Commissioner of Energy and Telecommunications for the Minnesota Department of Commerce. "By implementing programs and policies that not only benefit their communities ... they are benefiting the state as a whole."

Minnesota has a number of clean energy goals including: Minnesota Next Generation Energy Act, Renewable Electricity Standard, Solar Electricity Standard, Petroleum Replacement Goal and Biofuel and Biodiesel Content Mandates.

Jothsna Harris is a member on the selection committee for the award program and the Public Engagement manager at Climate Generation which educates and empowers people to engage in solution to climate change.

"Minnesota is increasingly being recognized as an emerging leader on clean energy," said Harris. "Truly paving the way on this issue will take lasting dedication from decision makers, as well as from people on the ground who are seeing and feeling the impacts of climate change, and who care about protecting the space and the people that make Minnesota their home."

The final decision for the award winner will be announced in October which was recently named as 'National Energy Action Month.'

Other finalists include the City of St. Cloud, the cities of Pelican Rapids and Fergus Falls, the city of Minneapolis, the city of Morris, the cities of Hutchinson, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the Chisago County's Clean Energy Hub.