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After 18 months of fundraising and customer and employeee volunteering, Izzy's is the first shop (that we know of) in the United States to be running on solar.
Izzy's High Noon Solar Project took a giant leap forward November 23, 2005 when electricity was produced from the 200 panels for the first time. The inspectors from the City of St. Paul gave the system the green light. The project is moving into its final fundraising push in December and the solar panels are currently generating power every day. Izzy's High Noon Solar Project began in May of 2004 and is now 18 old. The production and storage of ice cream consumes a lot of electricity. This project is set to cut Izzy's peak power demand by 30%. This locally produced power reduces electrical demand on the St. Paul grid, which a plus for everyone, while also producing clean energy. The 200 panels will generate 8.6 kilowatts of power during peak production. On a cold and sunny day in January when all the Izzy's Ice Cream makers are at home resting, Izzy's will be selling some of these kilowatts back to the grid.
This is the fun part of the solar project-the actual use. In its unique vision, Izzy's includes a sense of responsibility to the community in which it operates, and is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy, and in particular solar energy systems. The owners look forward to using their system as an opportunity to educate the public about solar energy. They also plan on sponsoring a $500 annual grant to individuals or businesses who wish to install solar energy systems in the Twin Cities metro area.
There are still approximately 150 panels available for sponsorship on the roof at Izzy's. Each panel's sponsorship is $100, and as an incentive Izzy's gives a gift certificate for $25 in ice cream. It's a great gift idea for the energy-conscious friend or relative who loves great ice cream!
Izzy's is planning a grand opening to celebrate the activation of the solar system. Check the store, future newsletters or the website for the date and time.
We started eighteen months ago with a goal to incorporate sustainable solar energy into the mission of Izzy's Ice Cream Café to be the first in the nation to maximize the relationship of the sun and ice cream sales - there seems to be a pretty direct relationship between energy use and ice cream sales/consumption.
As the owners of Izzy's we are very happy to report that we are DONE and PLUGGED IN. Recently some media outlets noticed the work we have been doing. The High Noon Solar project was reported on in the Highland Villager, the Women's Press, the Oracle at Hamline University, on Minnesota Public Radio and The Pulse.
Here's the Scoop
Izzy's Ice Cream Café is going solar— with your help. We plan to generate 30% of our peak electrical power demand through a new solar energy system. Izzy’s intends to become the first community-supported solar ice cream shop in the U.S. We are working to install an 8-kilowatt solar electric (photovoltaic, or PV) system on the roof of Izzy’s to produce electricity from the sunlight right in our neighborhood.
Why Go Solar?
Many people see the value of clean, quiet, solar energy, but the cost of even a modest-sized solar installation is too high for many households (ie. For further energy policy information see ME3 or Million Solar Roofs). Many homes don't have the appropriate conditions for solar energy production (south facing, un-shaded roofs). The idea is that because Izzy's roof is an ideal site for solar energy, we're organizing people to pool their resources so we can get solar energy into our neighborhood. Many people working together can accomplish what can be difficult for one family to do alone.
Izzy's works hard to create some of the finest ice cream in the nation. We use pure vanilla and premium ingredients to provide you with the best possible ice cream. Our business had the good fortune of some early success and we used that success to develop our own ice cream mix recipe and we began a year ago making most of our ice cream with milk and cream from the Pride of Main Street Dairy in Sauk Center, Minnesota. A fortunate benefit of this transition is that we are able to give greater support to local dairy farmers, because most of the milk and cream we use comes from central Minnesota family owned farms.
Now we are working to improve the means we use to bring you our great tasting ice cream. Keeping ice cream frozen requires the use of a lot of energy. We currently save on energy use by delivering ice cream in thermo-insulated bags instead of using a refrigeration truck and we save on energy by selling Peace Coffee, a local brand of fair trade and organic coffee that is delivered to us by bicycle.
Putting solar energy on the Izzy’s roof will allow us to produce some of our energy locally, right here at our store, and it will benefit the environment. In addition, to the inherent benefits, we hope to promote solar energy to our customers and the surrounding communities we serve.
With nine months of work behind us, we have solar panels purchased from the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative at the Green Institute in Minneapolis, a contractor in place (Innovative Power Systems owned by a Merriam Park Resident), target goals for volunteer labor hours, and a schedule of fundraising events. We are working to build an 8 kilowatt PV system for Izzy’s Ice Cream Café at an overall cost of $55,000: $20,000 of the cost are PV panels purchased by the owners of Izzy’s. The panels were previously donated by BP Solar (*see www.bpsolar.com for more information on the environmental benefits of solar energy; for one source of our inspiration see www.oldmanriver.com) to the Green Institute and nearly 100% of this initial cost will qualify for rebate dollars through the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Excel Energy (i.e. a pass through expense for the owners of Izzy’s); $30,000 of the cost will be additional materials and installation of the PV panels. Additionally, we plan to co-ordinate volunteer labor at a value of $5,000 to the overall project. Lastly, the application we made to the STAR program in St. Paul for a grant of $5,000 based on the recommended support of our City Council Representative, Jay Benanav passed on September 22, 2004.
The High Noon Solar Project @ Izzy’s has been awarded a $5,000 Star Grant.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
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128 Café AA Party and Tent Rental Adele Binning and Thomas Klein All of the Staff at Izzy’s Amy and Bryan Lloyd Andrew Lambert Andrew Thomas Arthur Allen Callie Sommers Carol Barton Chris Solheid Christopher Larson City Councilmember Jay Benanav City of St. Paul City Council Cynthia Bartoo Dan Rowe David Boyce Dianna Kennedy Doreen Williams Eco DEEP Fulton Design Gabriela Sweet Great Ciao Greg Hewett and Tony Hainault Hamline University Ian and Margery Punnett Jacqueline Schulz Jamie Zuel John Steingraeber Jeffery Tybalt Chamberlain XIV Joseph Bauekemper Kari Olson Kong Lee Larry More Lee Wallace Lisa Witchell Liz Oppenheimer and Jeaanne Burns
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Lory Schaff Lyle Sommers Lynn Torke Marianne and John Bull Mathew Massman Matt Ferry Michele Swanson Mike Taylor Mila Vocal Ensemble Nina and John Tuttle Patrick and J Drake Hamilton Peace Coffee Pete Nelson Community Market Pigs Eye Landing Pride of Main Street Dairy Ralph Jacobson Rebecca Rand Rick Anderson Ruminator Books Sabena and Jeff Svedahl SPI Printing St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Program Sysco The Green Institute The Highland Villager The Saint Paul Hotel The Women’s Press Trotter’s Café Virgina Dunivan Wahid Gul A special thanks to my wife (Lara) for her support during this solar project. An enthusiastic cheer and thanks to the numerous unnamed customers that have given money, volunteer time, and moral support. If we have missed your name or organization we apologize…please let us know so we don’t miss you the next time we say thank you. |
Izzy’s requests your help to continue turning this idea into reality. Here’s how you can help!
In October 2004, we offerred 200 solar panels up for sponsorship. Each panel can be purchased for $100. In return for your sponsorship we will give you permanent recognition at Izzy’s and we will give you one gallon of Izzy’s Ice Cream at a value of $25. Upon donation we will give you a gift certificate to redeem for a gallon of Izzy’s Ice Cream. You may collect your ice cream in pints or quarts, or you can order a gallon of your favorite flavor. You may redeem your ice cream gift certificate anytime. So far we have received 40 panel sponsors. A Great Gift Idea!
The Fund Raising Is Off To A Great Start In Just 9 Months
We have raised 80% of the money for this project thanks to our customers. We are still in the process accepting more donations to be able to pay off the bills for this project.
The Fund Raising Donation and Payment Options
Donations or sponsorship of solar panel(s) can be made to Izzy’s for the High Noon Solar project at Izzy’s. All donations and payments made to Izzy’s will be receipted and deposited in a High Noon Solar project savings account under the business name of Izzy’s.
Tax Deductible donations or payments can be made to the St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium and in such cases your donation or payment must be identified to support community solar energy installations. For tax-deductible donations or payments we will need a confirmation of use form filled out and payment by check only.