The Southwest Initiative Foundation is initiating and coordinating a monthly newspaper column to raise awareness about the economic benefits of renewable energy for southwest Minnesota.  The column is published on a monthly basis in the West Central Tribune - Willmar, The Hutchinson Leader, the Worthington Daily Globe, and the Marshall Independent.  The columns are authored by individuals with expertise on various renewable energy-related topics.  Click on the list below to read columns that have been published to date.

May 2007: "Fund to help farms tap into wind" Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal

December 2006: "Garbage In - Fuel and Energy Out " by Orville Moe, Board of Directors for Onsite Power Systems, Inc. (OPS) in Davis, California

August 2006: "Blowing Winds Soon to Provide Assist in Midwest Corn Production" by Michael Reese, Renewable Energy Director, University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center

May 2006: "From Obscurity to Center Stage: Renewable Energy Goes Mainstream" by David Paskach, Vice President, Southwest Initiative Foundation

April 2006: "Just Don't Call It A Waste!" by Dennis Haubenschild, Owner of Haubenschild Farm

March 2006: "A Roadmap to a Hydrogen Economy" by Al Cotter, retired 3M Engineer

February 2006: "Transmission and Transportation - Keys to Renewable Energy Production" by Mark Willers, CEO Minwind Energy, LLC

January 2006:  "Because It's Important.  That's Why." By Brent Olson

December 2005:  "A Brisk Future for Community-Based Wind Energy Development" By Dan Juhl and Harvey Wasserman

November 2005:  "Renewable Energy -- A Better Option" By Michael Noble, Executive Director of Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy (ME3)

October 2005:  "Renewable Energy -- Why Should You Care?"  By Sherry Ristau and Kevin Johnson, SWIF