With Arbor Day just around the corner in most states, it’s time to take a look at the resources, programs and practices Western customers use to keep their communities green.

Montana cooperatives team up to deliver better service

This tale of two electric cooperatives proves that the big job of providing electricity to a large territory with a dispersed population is easier to do with a partner.

Agralite fuels rural economic development with ethanol, vodka

Swift County, Minn., struggled with the same changes in the agricultural industry that drained so many rural economies, until Agralite Electric Cooperative started a business that created new revenue and helped to stabilize members’ electric rates.

Elk River Powerplant turns dirty garbage into clean energy

Great River Energy’s state-of-the-art, waste-to-energy powerplant adds to the utility’s renewable energy portfolio while helping surrounding counties to reduce the size of their landfills.

SolarBee uses sunshine on the water to scrub reservoirs clean

Municipalities have discovered a solar-powered water circulator that improves water quality while cutting down on expensive chemical treatments and high electric bills.

Innovative home produces as much energy as it uses

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its partners showed how attractive state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and a renewable energy system could be when it unveiled the Zero-Energy Home at the 2004 International Builders’ Show.

Faith in mustard seed fuels Blue Sun’s vision of biodiesel cartel

A Colorado fuel company believes that the hardy mustard seed could make a better-performing biodiesel and give High Plains region farmers a stake in the renewable energy economy.

Expo introduces building professionals to newest electric technologies

Western Energy Services Representative Ron Horstman and Watson the mold-detecting dog were among the experts covering the latest issues in electric technology at West River Energy Service’s fourth annual Electro-Technology Expo.

Western joins team to launch North Dakota’s largest wind farm

Basin Electric Power Cooperative praised Western’s Upper Great Plains staff for its part in bringing the 40-MW Edgeley Wind Farm online only 13 months after the utility signed the contract with the developers.

Topics from the Power Line:
Insulation key to keeping wine cellar temperature consistent

Power Line offers recommendations and resources for building an energy-efficient home wine cellar.

• New Western award recognizes regional energy savers
• Five power companies take WWF clean energy challenge
• Colorado renewables bill clears first legislative hurdle
• Public involvement sought to develop renewable energy tracking system
• Riverside extends electric economic development rate guarantee