The competition that earned Elk River the title of “Energy City,” as highway signs and other markers proudly declare, took place nearly two decades ago, but it has had a lasting impact.
The designation, awarded by the nonprofit Minnesota Environmental Initiative, grew from the premise that solutions to environmental problems need to make economic sense to be sustainable. Elk River was selected from more than 30 communities to show how that can be done.
Since then, “Energy City” has been the catalyst for what today is a hub of activities and demonstration projects that draw hundreds of visitors yearly, from schoolchildren to international delegations. Looking ahead, planners want to put an exclamation point on the “Energy City” concept by making Elk River “the most energy responsible city in Minnesota.”