Rochester Public Utilities Receives Funding from Minnesota’s Habitat Friendly Utilities Program
June 26, 2024 – Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) is partnering with the State of Minnesota’s Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to implement two habitat-friendly pollinator corridors in Rochester. This three-year pilot project is all about transforming two transmission corridors into long standing pollinating habitats that incorporate native vegetation that supports pollinating insects, mitigates erosion and sedimentation, and ensures the integrity and resiliency of Rochester’s landscapes while protecting habitat and water resources.
The goals of this three-year pilot project are to determine if creating pollinator habitats at other RPU facility locations are:
- A cost-effective method for replacing existing land management practices.
- Successfully increasing and maintaining native plant species.
- Reducing soil erosion and improving water quality.
- Creating pleasing aesthetics.
- Connecting habitat corridors.
Integrated vegetation management (IVM) for utility transmission corridors, also known as ROWs (rights-of-way), can be cost-effective solutions while supporting environmental conservation. IVM practices reduce the need for pesticides, promote healthy ecosystems, and better control of invasive species.
“It’s exciting to be building sustainable landscapes that will support wildlife habitats for pollinating insects” said RPU’s Interim Director of Customer Relations Patty Hanson. “You hear so much about the declining bee population, this agreement gives us the opportunity to do something about it”.
“The Habitat Friendly Utilities Program is an exciting new initiative for BWSR. Thousands of acres of ROWs transect Minnesota and can provide important travel corridors for wildlife. Through efforts like the pilot projects with RPU, we can establish quality native vegetation along ROWs that provide multiple benefits including pollinator habitat as well as increases in carbon sequestration and improved water management,” said Jason Beckler, BWSR’s Ecological Science Conservationist.
For more information about Rochester Public Utilities and its environmental stewardship efforts, please visit www.rpu.org.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU has provided high-quality and reliable electricity to over 59,000 customers. Water customers number more than 42,000. RPU is governed by a five-member Utility Board and the Rochester City Council. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water-efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Jun 26, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on Rochester Public Utilities Receives Funding from Minnesota’s Habitat Friendly Utilities Program
Rochester Public Utilities Valleyhigh Solar Site Receives Minnesota Habitat-Friendly Solar Project Designation
June 10, 2024—Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) in conjunction with West Side Solar Partners LLC proudly announces that the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has designated the solar installation on Valleyhigh Drive as a Minnesota Habitat Friendly Solar Project. This recognition underscores RPU’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The Minnesota Habitat Friendly Solar Standard, established by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, acknowledges projects that demonstrate significant benefits to local ecosystems, particularly gamebirds, songbirds, and pollinators. The Valleyhigh Drive site has met and exceeded these standards, contributing positively to the region’s biodiversity.
To ensure ongoing compliance with the standard, project owners or managers are required to submit an assessment form for established projects at the end of the third year of vegetation establishment, with subsequent assessments every three years thereafter.
“We are honored to receive this designation from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. As we were working on the Valleyhigh Solar project and establishing the 71 acres to accommodate 10 megawatts of solar energy, we also had plans to ensure we were good stewards of the land and environment,” said RPU General Manager Tim McCollough.
For more information about Rochester Public Utilities and its environmental stewardship efforts, please visit www.rpu.org.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU has provided high-quality and reliable electricity to over 59,000 customers. Water customers number more than 42,000. RPU is governed by a five-member Utility Board and the Rochester City Council. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water-efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Jun 10, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on Rochester Public Utilities Valleyhigh Solar Site Receives Minnesota Habitat-Friendly Solar Project Designation
2024 Water Tower Video
Here’s the video that was shown at the Apache Water Tower and Wellhouse Open House. Thanks to everyone who came by!
Posted: May 15, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on 2024 Water Tower Video
Rochester Public Utilities 2023 Water Quality Report now available
The 2023 Water Quality Report is now available to view and download.
Posted: May 06, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on Rochester Public Utilities 2023 Water Quality Report now available
22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 26th
April 24, 2024- ROCHESTER, MN— Rochester Public Utilities, with partners Maier Tree & Lawn, Rochester Park & Recreation, and Sargent’s Gardens, will hold its 22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 26, 2024. Come join in the celebration at RCTC’s Field House located at 851 30th Ave SE in Rochester (due to weather), with live music, free trees, and free lunch! Smokey Bear, chainsaw carver, games, and many more family activities will be taking place.
The fun and free community event will feature a variety of activities, music, and displays that will include: A tree giveaway (while supplies last), a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last). Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor activities and information.
Children will be able to enjoy the apple toss game, tree cookie stacking, tree ring toss, tree medallion necklaces, and much more!
At noon, an awards ceremony will honor Rochester elementary school students who were selected as finalists of the 2024 Arbor Day poster contest, as well as this year’s overall winner, Shaarav Nawale, a 4th grader at Washington Elementary. Shaarav will receive a $100 Target gift card, his winning poster will be featured in RPU’s 2025 calendar, and a tree will be planted in his honor at Washington Elementary School. This year’s poster contest theme was “Trees Are Terrific…For Animals Too!”
RPU line crews will also be partnering with Rochester Parks & Recreation on a tree planting for The Right Tree in the Right Place program on Wednesday, May 1 in NW Rochester near John Adams Middle School. This is an annual event to plant the proper type of boulevard trees in different neighborhoods in Rochester.
Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: ArborWise, Culligan of Greater Minnesota, Hy-Vee, Jim Whiting Nursery & Garden Center, Kemps, Minnesota Energy Resources, Pepsi, Sekapp Orchard, and Seneca Foods.
In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved to Rochester Community & Technical College’s Field House. This announcement will be made on the RPU Facebook (Rochester Public Utilities) and Twitter (@rpualerts) accounts.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 58,000 customers. Water customers number more than 41,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Apr 24, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on 22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 26th