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Plan could make Arden Hills development energy self-sufficient | Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/east/298985241.html[4/9/2015 12:52:55 PM] A new report for Rice Creek Commons, the former Army ammunitions site in Arden Hills, says a new solar farm — as well as using groundwater now being treated by the Army for heating and cooling — could satisfy all the 427-acre development’s energy needs. The report, called the Energy Integration Resiliency Framework for Rice Creek Commons, outlines a vision to make the development the largest in the state to be energy self-sufficient. At the heart of the proposal are plans to install an on-site 40-acre solar array and use water the Army is now treating to heat and cool homes and businesses. “We have an opportunity to use today’s technology to build a sustainable energy future,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Blake Huffman, who represents the area. But the county must move quickly, Huffman said, to obtain a 60-acre site just north of the development to use for the solar array. The solar project must be in place by the end of 2016 to utilize federal tax credits to offset the cost. Ramsey County officials plan to ask the federal General Services Administration to give it the site for free. In exchange, the county would clean up the site to meet industrial standards, which county officials said would cost about $1.25 million. When complete, the solar installation would use 40 acres and generate 8 megawatts of electricity. That is enough power to meet the needs of the entire Rice Creek Commons development. Officials say that’s also enough power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions each year by the equivalent of removing 1,432 cars from the roads. The second piece of the energy plan would use groundwater to heat and cool homes and businesses. The Army currently is pumping 2 million gallons of contaminated groundwater each day, treating it and dumping it into Marsden Lake. Heat from that 52-degree water could be captured and used to heat and cool all or parts of the development, said Greg Mack, project manager for the county. “It would be just taking advantage of resources that are there,” Mack said. Article by: JAMES WALSH , Star Tribune Updated: April 7, 2015 - 8:32 PM A 40-acre solar array is the key cog to the development’s plan. from the homepage U psychiatry chairman steps down after protocol concerns Mary Lucia to take leave from 89.3 the Current after stalker incidents Pedaling America: Good-bye Rockies, hello Great Plains! ADVERTISEMENT most read most emailed most watched Minn. high school senior accepted to all eight Ivy League schools 18 years later, man charged in disappearance, death of wife in Minn. St. Paul schools Superintendent Silva on short list for Florida job Merging law schools causes tenure fight at William Mitchell Body found in river confirmed to be that of Jennifer Houle Husband arrested in case of White Bear Township woman missing since 1997 Jennifer Houle's father thanks rescuers after body found ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Search All content Business listings Site Index east metro News Local Sports Business Politics Opinion Lifestyle Entertainment North Metro West Metro South Metro East Metro Minneapolis St. Paul Your Voices Blogs + Columns Minnesota Topics Obituaries Classifieds Autos Housing Jobs Home Local East Metro Plan could make Arden Hills development energy self-sufficient more from east metro 18 years later, man charged in disappearance, death of wife in Minn. Minn. high school senior accepted to all eight Ivy League schools St. Paul police honor officer, detective, civilians of the year comments resize text print buy reprints1 29 Tweet 13 Share Log In |Register |My account |Subscribe Digital Home delivery |Today’s Paper