Rural Energy Development Initiative (REDI)

SWIF will utilize its infrastructure, collective experience and relationships to benefit the renewable energy industry throughout Minnesota by administering REDI.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) has been selected to manage and implement a statewide program designed to provide organizing and technical assistance to rural entities seeking to develop wind energy electric generation projects.  This program was established by the Minnesota State Legislature in 2007 and is sponsored by the State of Minnesota and the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

The goal of REDI is to maximize rural economic development and stabilize rural economies by building renewable energy capacity, expertise, and leadership throughout the state of Minnesota.  This goal will be accomplished by providing organizing and technical assistance to rural entities seeking to develop wind energy projects for the purpose of selling the energy to an electric utility and by raising awareness of the local economic, community and environmental benefits of renewable energy development, energy conservation and efficiency. 

SWIF is collaborating with public, private and nonprofit stakeholders to develop, implement and support REDI.  These partnerships will allow for potential expansion of the original intent of this program to not only meet the legislative requirements as it related to wind energy, but also serve as a foundation upon which to expand the objectives and advance the renewable energy asset sector for all of rural Minnesota. 

Partnerships

SWIF and collaborating partners such as the North American Water Office, C-BED Initiative, and others have designed REDI to provide detailed specifics for decision-making and the necessary steps to take a wind energy project from conception to the point where they can continue project development on their own using commercial and/or governmental financing mechanisms.  We are committed to helping at least 12 wind energy projects distributed across Minnesota through the necessary steps of organizing and technical assistance needed to complete initial feasibility studies and all tasks requisite to entering the Midwest Independent System Operator queue. 

The proposed model for providing hands-on technical assistance will also help Minnesota build leadership and knowledge throughout the state by building a team or organizers and technical assistance managers who are quipped to help project development into the future. 

To learn more about REDI:

Download the REDI Interest Form

Download the REDI Fact Sheet

Contact us via e-mail:  redi@swifoundation.org

Contact us via phone:   1-866-966-6749 (NRGY)

SWIF and the Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security recently held meetings to provide an update on the first phase of the Statewide Study for Dispersed Generation potential and an overview of REDI.  The presentations from these meetings can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

MN DOC DG Study Phase I Presentation

REDI Presentation

CERTs Conference

CERTs 2009: Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota’s Energy Future will be held Feb. 10-11, 2009, in St. Cloud.

REDI is hosting the pre-conference workshop and evening reception Feb. 9.

Dispersed Generation Study

In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature adopted a requirement for a Statewide Study of Dispersed Generation Potential. Click here for a full report of the findings.

Online Resources Now Available

Community Wind Handbook

The Southwest Initiative Foundation, along with other partners, funded a community project for Agriculture Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and Windustry to create a Community Wind Handbook and Tool Box.  The Community Wind Handbook is a step-by-step manual on creating a community wind project.  An Excel spreadsheet is also available to help calculate costs for a wind project.  To download these tools, click on the titles below.

• Community Wind Handbook
• Sample Power Purchase Agreement
• Wind Project Calculator

NOTE:  Each file is large and may take a few minutes to download depending on your Internet connection.

Community Wind Tool Box

The information in the handbook also served as the underlying information that has been expanded into an on-line tool box on Windustry's Web site.  The Community Wind Tool Box offers high-quality, practical information, interactive tools and links to related information for farmers and rural landowners looking to develop commercial-scale wind projects.  Visit the Windustry Web site to view the Community Wind Tool Box.

These are wonderful examples of the tools and resources that SWIF is helping to provide to those interested in the renewable energy industry and to partnering organizations who are supporting this work. 

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For More Information:				Additional Resources:
	Contact: Cheryl Glaeser Program Specialist (800) 594-9480 cherylg@swifoundation.org Download: REDI Fact Sheet				CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/ Windustry http://windustry.com/   View Additional Resources