River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls Municipal Utilities (RFMU) was founded more than 100 years ago. The utility was created by community members seeking to establish their own utility to provide lights to the downtown area and enhance economic development. The utility began serving the community’s water needs in 1894, its electric needs in 1900 and sewer needs in 1930.
In 1980, River Falls joined WPPI Energy. Today RFMU provides service to approximately 5,800 customers in River Falls, operating as the locally owned electric, water/sewer and wastewater utility.
Sustainable Initiatives
The community is committed to providing leadership to encourage communitywide sustainability. In 2007, RFMU created the POWERful Choices! initiative. This effort has helped boost community energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, promote broad energy awareness and conservation, and advance renewable energy. In addition, RFMU formed a volunteer committee comprised of local elected/appointed officials, educators, business leaders, environmental group members and citizens to provide direction in motivating the community to work together on the initiative.
Innovative Financing for Renewables
River Falls is the first community in Wisconsin and the Midwest to offer an innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency finance program. Save Some Green, established in 2010, emphasizes efficiency first and the installation of renewable energy second. The program is the first of its kind in the nation, based on a similar program called Berkeley FIRST.
However, Save Some Green funds more projects, such as solar photovoltaic systems, solar hot water, solar thermal heating, geothermal systems, wind turbines, and major energy efficiency projects in connection with a renewable energy project. The program provides four percent interest loans to residential utility customers to finance qualified renewable energy systems and make efficiency improvements to their property through installments on their property tax bills.
National Leader
In January 2009, River Falls appeared on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national list of Green Power Communities. River Falls was the first community in Wisconsin and the Midwest to receive this distinction, ranking No. 10 on the EPA’s Green Power Community list.
Through RFMU and WPPI Energy, the River Falls community is purchasing more than 18 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, the second highest percentage in the country and enough green power to meet 15 percent of the community’s purchased electricity use.
In addition, RFMU continues to earn national recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for its leadership in the sale of renewable energy. Based on 2009 customer participation rates, RFMU ranked eighth in the nation among more than 850 utilities across the United States who offer green power programs. The utility also ranked sixth for its green power sales as a percentage of total utility retail electricity sales. The 2009 NREL “Top 10” list marks the fifth time River Falls has earned national recognition for its successful green power program performance since 2005.
Valuable Community Leadership
Community members in River Falls purchase electricity from clean, green sources by participating in RFMU’s Renewable Energy Program and Green Power for Business. The community’s green power participation received a significant boost when students at UW-River Falls voted in favor of allocating student funds to power the school’s University Center and residence halls with renewable energy from RFMU. A purchase by the state provides additional renewable energy to the campus. In February 2010, Mayor Don Richards challenged local citizens to increase their use of renewable energy. As a result, residential customers increased green power purchases by 11 percent. Another initiative, called the Green Partner Program and conducted by Efficiency and Conservation Coordinator Mike Noreen, increased Green Power for Business participants by 144 percent. Noreen partnered with Mayor Richards to conduct personal visits to local businesses in River Falls. Business partners were given a personalized flyer that explained their current energy use, costs, and environmental benefits associated with purchasing renewable energy.
Large Power Leaders
In the spring of 2007, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics, a commercial customer of RFMU, participated in the first round of bidding for the RFP for Energy Efficiency program and received funding to upgrade its cooling system with a water cooled chiller, generating an annual energy savings of more than 415,000 kWh. In another round of RFP bidding in 2008, the company converted its plastic resin drying process with a more efficient and centralized system.
UW-River Falls is also making significant strides to improve the efficiency and operation of its facilities. The university is utilizing RFMU’s New Construction Design Assistance program for an addition to the George R. Field South Fork Suites Residence Hall. The program will help review the building’s energy performance and analyze energy efficiency opportunities.
Students also voluntarily purchase 363,000 kWh of renewable energy per month for the University Center and all the residence halls, enough energy to power 41 average-sized homes.
Numerous lighting, motor, HVAC, and other energy saving projects have been implemented at the university. Continuous monitoring of building operations and retro commissioning have also significantly improved how university building equipment and systems function together.
The River Falls School District also upgraded classroom and facility lighting in several schools. The district installed new energy-efficient high-bay fluorescent fixtures in gymnasiums district wide and converted to high-performance T8 from T12 fluorescent lighting.
Walking the Talk
The community of River Falls plays an important role in supporting clean energy alternatives. Thanks to communitywide leadership, the implementation of several key initiatives, and a strong community-wide conservation ethic, River Falls continues to set a leadership example that sustainability is a wise and long-term investment.
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FAST FACTS
County: Pierce and Saint Croix
Population: 14,343
Web site: www.rfmu.org
Did you know?
River Falls Municipal Utilities has implemented a municipal effort to improve energy use in utility and municipal facilities.
River Falls is the first Wisconsin
community with a LEED-certified City Hall. The city purchases 50,300 kilowatt-hours, or 35 percent of the building’s annual energy consumption, from renewable resources.
The utility was the first community in Wisconsin and the Midwest to appear
on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national list of Green Power Communities.
River Falls Municipal Utilities was one of
23 original members to join WPPI Energy
in 1980.
Contact:
For more information about utility
programs and services in River Falls,
contact Weston Arndt, energy services representative for WPPI Energy, at (715) 829-5505 or warndt@wppienergy.org.
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