Ever-Green Energy

Yesterday in Saint Paul, project partners and community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of the first aquifer thermal energy storage system in our state. The brownfield redevelopment on Saint Paul’s East Side will become The Heights, bringing a mix of market-rate, affordable, and deeply affordable multi-family homes and living-wage jobs to the community. The event marked the beginning of construction on the low-carbon energy system that will heat and cool a portion of The Heights development with one of the largest networked geothermal energy systems in the state, and the first to use aquifer thermal energy. The project is an important step in reaching the sustainability goals for the redevelopment and the City of Saint Paul’s climate goals to be net zero by 2050 for greenhouse gas emissions. We are grateful to Saint Paul Port Authority, City of Saint Paul, Melvin W. Carter III, Nelsie Yang, Cheniqua Johnson, Minnesota Department of Commerce (Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority), Sherman Associates, Unidos MN , and JO Companies, for helping us celebrate this Minnesota energy-milestone that will serve the community and be a model for future developments. Our gratitude to our state legislators who have supported clean energy technology, and all the trades workers contributing to this project. To learn more and view photos from the event, visit https://lnkd.in/g_jyDKmK

Ever-Green Energy was pleased to both serve as a sponsor and have team members attend Fresh Energy's 2024 #FreshBreakfast this morning at the Saint?Paul RiverCentre. It is?always inspiring to connect with partners and industry leaders old and new to?consider how our work is advancing climate solutions here in Minnesota.

Great to see the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) is naming Ken Smith one of the Twin Cities' most-admired CEOs. CEEM has witnessed his leadership at District Energy & Ever-Green Energy, and his thought leadership continues to shape clean energy in MN and beyond. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gK-Kgf-Z

In the last week of his tenure as president and CEO, District Energy St. Paul’s Ken Smith was honored as a Most Admired CEO by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ). In this interview, he reflects on some of his leadership hallmarks, including always pushing work forward to benefit the community, and to build a foundation of?integrity in everything you do. Ken shared, "I'm incredibly proud that we have made District Energy a flagship system for the US and beyond. Through Ever-Green, we have helped other communities and countries achieve their energy and climate goals.” The effects of his leadership are evident throughout our company and our work. Congratulations, Ken on this well-deserved recognition. To read the full interview, visit https://lnkd.in/gK-Kgf-Z

Beginning October 1, Ever-Green’s president and CEO Luke Gaalswyk will assume the role of president and CEO for our nonprofit parent company, District Energy St. Paul. This marks the final step of the succession plan for longtime president and CEO Ken Smith, who will stay on in an advisory role through the fall of 2025.? ? Ken is a dedicated and forward-thinking leader, and his legacy at Ever-Green and District Energy St. Paul will be present well into the future. Since beginning at Ever-Green in September of 2022, Luke has hit the ground running, helping to grow Ever-Green’s operations footprint in the Twin Cities and expanding capacity to develop innovative approaches to sustainable building heating and cooling, including networked geothermal and waste heat recycling solutions from data centers and wastewater treatment facilities. We are excited for this next chapter with both companies under his leadership.? ? Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gWbVe6ED

The Institute on the Environment University of Minnesota is proud to be the home of the Climate-Smart Municipalities program (CSM), winner of the 2024 Achievement Award from the National Sustainability Society. The award recognizes a multidisciplinary team addressing societal needs and fostering just transitions through sustainable environmental and social solutions. CSM works to advance climate and energy solutions through international collaboration between Minnesota and German cities to accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly energy future at the local level. Ken Smith, Ever-Green Energy and CSM Co-Creator (left); David Senjem, Olmsted County Minnesota Commissioner and CSM participant (center); and Sabine Engel, CSM leader and IonE's Program Director of International Partnerships (right), pictured below, were in person to accept the award at the first NSS conference in Seattle last week. News release: https://lnkd.in/gmFBEt5H

Always exciting to see University of Minnesota Morris's leadership in campus energy and sustainability.?

This week, the National Sustainability Society recognized Minnesota’s Climate-Smart Municipalities?with their first-ever Achievement Award. The award honors a multidisciplinary, multi-sector team aiding public good by addressing clear and compelling societal needs, fostering just transitions through projects that seek sustainable solutions to environmental and social challenges. Climate-Smart Municipalities brings together diverse stakeholders and leaders from 2 countries, (USA-Minnesota and Germany), 12 cities, and more than a dozen government, non-profit, business, and academic institutions for shared learning towards a climate-friendly future in their local communities. Ever-Green Energy is a co-founding partner and member of Climate-Smart Municipalities. Ever-Green’s Ken Smith states that being an active part of the energy transition is vital for communities both large and small. Of the collaboration, he notes, “US communities have much to learn from Germany and Scandinavian countries. They use comprehensive policy and goals that prioritizes efficiency and deployment of holistic solutions in communities of all sizes that demonstrates a systems-thinking approach to the energy transition.” To learn more about the award and the work of the Climate-Smart Municipalities, visit https://lnkd.in/gmFBEt5H

Construction is underway at The Heights! The 112-acre redevelopment, led by Saint Paul Port Authority, will bring an influx of jobs and housing to the former Hillcrest Golf Course on Saint Paul's East Side. Check out drone footage from Saint Paul Port Authority: https://lnkd.in/g5hzheBP

As societal demand for data continues to grow, it will be essential to determine a path forward that balances favorable outcomes for communities, energy efficient and innovative technologies, and demands on the power grid and other infrastructure (including water). This includes assessing the opportunity for waste heat recovery from data centers in communities with existing (or potential) district heating networks - an approach that has the potential to maximize efficiency and lessen demand on the electric grid as buildings move toward electrification. Learn more about the roles land availability and energy and water infrastructure play in data center site selection and project economics via the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ)?