Cities in Action

Prairie Climate Stewardship Network

City of Fargo: Providing leadership in initiating efforts to protect the environment by utilizing renewable energy and adding environmentally friendly features to city buildings and operations, Fargo serves as an example of what other cities can do.

City of Grand Forks: Making Grand Forks more energy efficient and reducing green house gas emissions. Under the leadership of Mayor Mike Brown, working with Grand Forks residents.

City of Fargo

Capture of Methane Gas at City-Owned Landfill:

The city has achieved annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to planting 13,000 acres of forest, removing the emissions of 9,100 vehicles, or preventing the use of 111,000 barrels of oil by capturing the methane gas at its city-owned landfill. In collaboration with Cargill Inc. (which has a plant neighboring the landfill) the City of Fargo developed a direct-use landfill gas energy (LFGE) project. The LFGE project generated revenue for the City of Fargo and reduced Cargill's energy costs, emissions, and dependence on natural gas. Cargill's intention is to completely replace natural gas with LFG. The City of Fargo financed the installation of the LFG collection system and the two split the cost of the 1.5-mile pipeline. Cargill financed installation of dual-fuel burners and the new control system. The city recovered its capital expense through the sale of LFG, while Cargill recovered its capital expense in fuel savings using LFG versus natural gas. For more information, go to US EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP).

Use of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Features in City Facilities and Infrastructure:

The city's new garbage transfer station and baling facility (operational early 2007) uses renewable energy sources, including methane gas available at the landfill, solar energy and wind energy. Electricity produced from methane gas is sold to a local power cooperative, while exhaust and engine heat from the generator help heat the station. Solar and wind energy supply electricity to the station. Avoided cost and new sales of electricity are projected to generate more than $370,000 annually on a $1 million investment.

The city's Metro Area Transit Garage includes a recycling system for water used to wash buses and a high-performing glaze on the outside of the building that will save on heating an cooling costs.

The city's Metro Area Transit bus fleet operates on a biodiesel mixture all year long. Made from soybean and other vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease or oil. Biodiesel releases less carbon dioxide and particulate matter than traditional diesel fuel.

The city has replaced every traffic-light bulb with a light-emitting diode, or LED, which uses 80% less energy and saves the city an estimated $40,000 per year.

Creation of City Renewable Energy and Conservation Committee and Mayor's Participation in "Mayors for Climate Protection:"

The city's Renewable Energy and Conservation Committee mission is "to pursue, plan and implement policies and/or programs that will foster conservation, utilize, and develop renewable resources, and protect the environment."

Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker is part of "Mayors for Climate Protection," a group of more than 400 mayors in 43 states taking action on global warming.