To celebrate its "green" headquarters building that opens today, Great River Energy is launching two loan funds worth $28 million to help businesses construct energy-efficient buildings or install the latest in energy-efficient equipment in older buildings.
A revolving $20 million loan fund with zero or low interest rates is intended to help Great River's commercial co-op members "comfortably finance the additional costs" required to construct buildings that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a program overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The other loan program offers up to $8 million for energy-efficient retrofits and equipment replacements.
The new loans are one way Great River can help others take the steps it did in building a green headquarters building in Maple Grove, officials said.
"Our building may be the first of its kind in the region, but this [loan] program will ensure it's only the first of many," said CEO David Saggau. "This is the first loan program of its kind in the region and will help companies practice energy efficiency and sustainability."
Great River, one of Minnesota's largest energy companies with 1.7 million customers in 28 distribution co-ops, is unveiling its new $45 million headquarters today before Gov. Tim Pawlenty and 300 guests in the Maple Grove Arbor Lakes development.
The building features solar panels, energy-efficient windows, glass office walls that transmit light into all offices from two directions, geothermal heating and cooling and a 160-foot windmill that generates 200 kilowatts of power. About 50 percent of concrete columns that support the four stories are made with recycled fly ash, a waste component of coal plants that used to end up in landfills. Captured rainwater flushes toilets in all the restrooms. The list goes on.
The building consumes 40 percent less electricity and 90 percent less water than a traditional building of the same 166,000-square footage. Officials are applying for the rare Platinum LEED Certification, which only about 35 buildings have received worldwide.
