Posts Tagged ‘miner county sd’

Community Wind: What’s a guy to do?

December 22nd, 2009

With wind farms popping up across the countryside, Midwesterners are becoming much more familiar with wind energy.  Yet few are aware of the type of wind development called “community wind.” That should change, however, thanks to a new publication called “Lessons & Concepts for Advancing Community Wind,” which was recently released by the Minnesota Project. 

 

What is Community Wind?

Without drawing much attention to it, I’ve talked about community wind before.  In a nutshell, community wind involves local ownership of wind turbines.  The electricity produced by the turbines is usually sold to area utilities. 

This model flies in the face of traditional wind farms, where a company builds and operates large wind farms.  Because wind energy is the focus of their business, these companies develop both the expertise and economy of scale that drives down the cost of production. 

But the downside to the traditional model is that it is dependent on the development of new transmission lines and causes a greater share of the financial impact from the turbines to bypass the local economy. 

 

Why aren’t there more community wind projects?

A simple answer to the question is that people who try to develop their own wind projects don’t know how to overcome the barriers that pop up in the development process.  “Lessons & Concepts for Advancing Community Wind” attempts to address these issues by providing case studies of three community wind projects:  City of Willmar, MN; Winona County MN; and Miner County, SD.  These three projects were selected for review because each took a very different path to completion.    

I’ve written about both the Miner County and Winona County projects before (see here and here).  The “Lessons & Concepts” guide, however, digs in much deeper.  It would have been nice to have had this guide back in 2001 when we developed the Miner County Wind Project.   

And that’s the value of the guide.  It’s intended to help people with little background in the energy industry build their capacity and understanding. 

We’ve fielded a lot of calls at the Rural Learning Center through the years from people asking how we developed the Miner County Wind Project. We’re always happy to help. But time is so short that we often hang up having only scratched the surface on the subject.  

That’s why the next time I receive such a call, I’m going to recommend the caller read “Lessons & Concepts for Advancing Community Wind” first.  I’m confident doing so will make our conversation more productive. 

Update:  David Tidball from Windustry offers some great advice in the comment section to this post.  For instance, he pointed out the “Communit Wind Toolbox” that Windustry has developed, as well as other great information on community wind (found here).  Thanks David.

Other resources

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Big Problems can’t be solved by Big Solutions

December 14th, 2009

We’ve known for quite some time Dan and Chip Heath intended to include the story of the “Miner County Cash Flow Study“ project in their next book, Switch: How to Change Things when Change is Hard.  Chip interviewed Randy Parry about the project at Grassroots and Groundwork Conference in St. Paul, MN a couple years ago. 

Having the project, which kick started our development efforts in Miner County, SD, mentioned in Switch is pretty exciting for me.  I’m a huge fan of their first book, Made to Stick, and I regularly seek out their monthly column in FastCompany as the first article I read in the magazine. 

Yesterday, I stumbled across this blog post and learned a bit about how they intend to use the story of the cash flow study in Switch.  The author interviewed Dan and Chip, and wrote the following:

Another fascinating component of the conversation was the Heath’s belief that “big problems are only rarely solved by big solutions.” They argued that big changes must be shrunk into the smallest components possible and attacked bite by bite. Very thought-provoking for someone passionate about the importance of the follower! The illustration used here was that of some kids in a South Dakota small town economics class who managed to save their town simply by encouraging everyone in town to spend just 10% more of their money locally. And it worked!”  (Source:  “Chip/Dan Heath - Switch,” Hogshadows. 8-8-09)

Big problems can’t be solved by big solutions. That makes me think of Rosa Parks.  One lady, who refused to give up her seat on a bus, helped launch the Civil Rights movement.  Of course, her singular action - standing up to the injustice of segregation on Montgomery, AL buses — didn’t eliminate discrimination overnight, but her effort played a pivotal role in solving a problem many, at the time,  deemed insurmountable. 

It may be a bit presumptive to compare the herculean efforts of Rosa Parks and the civil rights activists who toppled segregation in the South to the efforts of Howard H.S. students who raised awareness about the importance of spending their money locally; but I think the Heaths are onto something important when they say the solutions to big problems must be attacked in smaller, more manageable bites. 

Of course, in the community development world, it means you also need sustained leadership.  The students who participated in the Miner County Cash Flow Study project addressed one issue - local spending - but it took a decade of sustained community development efforts to achieve success in Miner County. Rural decline is, after all, a pretty complex issue.

And do we ever really achieve success? Like fighting discrimination, transforming the economies of our small, rural communities will take constant vigilance.  It’s safe to say that something WILL go wrong in Miner County at some point in the future.  A business will struggle or a building will be destroyed by fire.  One never knows the challenges the future will bring.

But tackling big issues with small bites and developing sustained leadership makes a lot of sense as a foundation for creating change in our rural communities.  I look forward to what else the Heaths have to say on the subject in Switch. 

Note:  I’d encourage anyone interested in learning more about the study  to sign up for a free resource guide in the box found in the upper right column.

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Climate change: Every situation creates an opportunity

October 20th, 2009

In honor of my good friend Joe Bartmann of the Sioux Falls Green Project visiting me in Howard (SD) yesterday, I wanted to share a post related to the green movement in rural places.  Amazingly, an article titled “Climate Change and Rural Communities in the US: a Draft Briefing Paper” fell into my lap thanks to a tweet from the Rural Assistance Center.  The subject and the fact that it was produced by one of my favorite rural organizations, the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), make commenting on it almost mandatory.      

Admittedly, I haven’t studied the nuances of climate change legislation before Congress as much as I should.  In reading the document, I was alarmed to learn that the Secretary of Transportation had proposed a “vehicle miles traveled” (as opposed to a fuel tax) as a way to reduce pollution and increase revenue for our highways.  Residents of rural states undoubtedly cringe at the negative impact such legislation would have on their pocketbooks.  Luckily, the measure was quickly abandoned by the Obama administration, but it shows that we should be paying closer attention.

 As I read through the descriptions of potential measures intended to help our environment, I can say that I support some of them, and oppose others.  What was most interesting to me, however, was the last section titled “Opportunities for rural communities.”

It offered four potential areas of opportunity for rural communities to consider.  An overview of these opportunities include:

In Miner County, SD, we were early adopters of three of the measures:  renewable energy production, green jobs, and rural-urban collaboration.  The forth(carbon sequestration) is one that I still don’t know much about, let alone understand how rural communities can take advantage of. 

I’m not sure if the cap and trade legislation before Congress will pass or not.  But this article has made me more aware of why I need to pay attention to the issue.  Thanks RURPI. 

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Bob Sutton “gets” ReImagine Rural

September 5th, 2009

In our work at the Rural Learning Center, we’ve long recognized the importance of place. It is, after all the root of our work that began with our Howard H.S. students back in the 1990s.

The theme of place emerged several times Wednesday in the speeches presented at the Rural Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony. While all were excellent, I think Bob Sutton, President of the South Dakota Community Foundation best captured the power of place.

Seeking inspiration to write his speech, Bob actually drove to Howard, sat under the trees of the Miner County Courthouse lawn, and absorbed the essence of the place.

The result was incredible. Inspiring and insightful. All in just under 10 minutes. That’s how place can get under your skin. If you don’t believe me, watch his presentation for yourself.

A couple topics stood out for me in Bob’s talk, and I’d like to share them below.

The Ingredients of Success

First, whenever one talks about the future of rural places, the conversation often turns to job creation and financial investment. As Bob eloquently describes, money is not the only ingredient; “Resources such as time and talent, leadership skills, motivational conversation, and a rekindling of the spirit of hope is just as critical in places like Howard.”

How true.

People sometimes think that the recent positive developments in Miner County have occurred because we were lucky enough to receive a sizeable grant from the Northwest Area Foundation. While important, money alone would not have produced the same results.

The Power of ReImagining Rural

Second, there’s a power in reimagining the future of rural communities. Having experienced 50-80 years of economic decline, rural residents in our part of the country have a tendency to look backwards and develop a feeling of hopelessness. That hopelessness causes us to doubt the success of projects like the Maroney Rural Learning Center - like one reader of the Argus Leader’s story wrote in their forum - even before the project has gets off the ground.

And that’s why celebrations like this groundbreaking were so important.

Why Groundbreakings?

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to interview Dan Scott, a lawyer from St. Paul, MN. Dan grew up in Howard where his dad was the long-time superintendent. (His dad is the guy who hired me to come to Howard back in 1996.)

Even though Dan lives 6 hours away from Howard, he made the trip back to Howard for the groundbreaking ceremony. This prompted me to ask “Why?” His response is below.

That’s right. We do need to pause, reflect, and celebrate. And through this reflection and celebration we can begin to dream of the possibilities for our future.

A big thanks to Bob Sutton for his remarkable remarks on Wednesday. He is someone who is helping communities in South Dakota to “reimagine rural.”

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Photos of Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking

September 5th, 2009

It’s a clique, but it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words.  For that reason, we want to share photos from the Maroney Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking celebration.  I’ve uploaded some of the photos to this blog post, but you can find more at our Flickr stream. (go here to view all pictures) .

 

We’ve also created a Flickr group called “Maroney Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking” so that others who took pictures at the event can share them with us.  If would like to add your photos to this group, but need a little help, feel free to shoot me a message (mike@ruraltransformations.com) and I’ll help you do so.   

 

 

    

   

 

 

 

 

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What do famous people have to say about ReImaging Rural?

September 3rd, 2009

Well the Rural Learning Center created quite a stir yesterday with the groundbreaking ceremony.  Enough so, that the story has been featured in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Mitchell Daily Republic, and on KSFY television.  I expect to see more stories popping up throughout the day.

In all, we listened to twelve individuals at the ceremony and not one of them was a “dud.”  All were engaging, thoughtful and to the point.

Anyone who could not attend will be happy to know that we captured much of the celebration, including speakers and interviews, on video.  I’ve been busy ever since converting the video and taking notes.  Hopefully, I’ll finish up early this afternoon.

Besides being “quoatable,” many of the speakers used quotes from famous individuals to draw emphasis and interest.  Although the quotes originated with people from all walks of life, each offered guidance for what we need to do as we work to “reimagine rural” America. 

Until all of the video is ready to view, I want to share a few of those quotes.  I’d also invite you to reflect on the words, and see how they speak to you.  Perhaps you will find new meaning for them in addition to what our speakers had to share. 

 

John Mengenhausen, President of Howard Industries quoted  John F. Kennedy  
“One man can make a difference, but every man should try.”

Kevin Walker, President/CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation quoted William Blake   
“What is now proved was once only imaged.”

Mike McDowell, General Manager of Heartland Consumer Power District quoted Vince Lombardi 
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Mike McDowell also quoted Mark Twain 
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do.”

Jeff Duff, President/COO of Airstreams Renewable, Inc. quoted Wayne Gretzky
“You know I don’t skate to where the puck is, I skate to where the puck is going to be.”

 

Update: The Madison Daily Leader ran this story Thursday (Sept.3) in the afternoon.

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Why does “Rural” matter?

September 2nd, 2009

In our part of the country, most rural communities have experienced 50-80 years of economic decline.  This decline often leads to feelings of despair and hopelessness. 

A Sense of Hope

At the Rural Learning Center (RLC), however, we have a sense of empowerment and hopefulness.  We base that optimism in part on the progress being made in Howard, South Dakota and surrounding Miner County, where our work began.

Two of the most compelling signs of that progress include the Howard municipal sales tax revenues and the construction of the second phase to the Rural Learning Center.

 

How did you get started in Miner County?

As Randy Parry, President of the RLC, indicates in the video below titled “How did you get started in Miner County?” our work began with high school students studying local sales tax trends. Seeking to make an impact, these students shared their learning with the citizens of Howard.  Their efforts as well as the innovative community development work that followed sparked an “invest in local” movement  resulting in significant business investment that translated into  record sales tax revenues.   (see image above)

Today, we are celebrating the groundbreaking for Phase II of the Rural Learning Center in Howard.  Dignitaries from around the country will be in attendance to help us celebrate and “reimagine” the possibilities for our rural places.

Why does Rural Matter?

But as we do, I think it is important that we reflect on why rural communities matter and why the Rural Learning Center is important to their futures. 

To help initiate that conversation, I’ve produced a short video in which I asked Rural Learning Center employees those very questions.  I hope it spurs you to reflect and share your thoughts on the subject.

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Rural Learning Center on Facebook

July 17th, 2009

I returned to Howard Tuesday evening from a trip to the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship to discover a message on the Howard community sign saying, “RLC on Facebook.” 

Yes it’s true.  The Rural Learning Center has been exploring the use of Facebook as a way for people with an “interest” in Miner County to “connect.”  The effort is only about a month in the making, but it’s been fun to watch it develop. 

This is a good start.  166 members in such a short time is pretty amazing.  But now, it would be fun to see more of the over twenty-one year old crowd join, as well as increased participation (not just belonging) from everyone.  

Erin Heidelberger recently spoke about community participation over on her Prairie Roots blog.  She provides a great example of how people in Baltimore are contributing their ideas about what they want to have done with vacant buildings in their community.  Here are some other examples of communities becoming engaged through social media: 

Over the next several months, I hope to provide some updates on how the people of Miner County are participating on Facebook and other social media tools.  I’d also be very interested in hearing from people with examples of how communities are using social media to increase participation.

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Rural vs. Urban job growth in SD

May 11th, 2009

A new report highlights a positive trend in Miner County, SD. Between 2002 and 2008, Miner County experienced a growth of 17.61% in the number of private sector jobs created in the county. That is especially good news when one considers that overall, South Dakota’s rural communities experienced a decline of .27% in private sector jobs.

The study, titled “Private Industry Change in South Dakota,” was completed by the Rural Life Census Data Center at South Dakota State University and released in their April 2009 newsletter. Read the full report here.

Overall, the study shows that South Dakota performed pretty well in the job creation arena during this period (2002-2008) with an overall growth rate of 8.6%. But most of that growth occurred in urban areas or counties bordering South Dakota’s largest communities (those with cities of over 10,000 people). (See report for comparison to surrounding states.)

In addition to its analysis, the report offers a couple brief policy implications:

1) First, the report recommends supporting the development of smaller, locally owned businesses. A community with a diversity of small, locally owned businesses allows residents to take greater ownership of the community. These communities also tend to have less inequality. To me, this sounds like a great case for investing in economic gardening practices, where local businesses are the beneficiaries.

2) Second, policy makers need to understand the relationship between poverty and private industry and take action by investing in education, vocational training, and work experience. It is interesting to note that the study emphasizes accomplishing this through grassroots civic organizations where people have an opportunity to develop greater “personal ownership and community pride.” Sounds like they are buying into the Knight Foundation’s Soul of the Community study.

Some final thoughts

Overall, I appreciate the emphasis the report places on the current economic plight of rural communities. I hope that policy makers take note that across the board, current job creation strategies in rural communities are not working well. This does not mean, however, that places experiencing decline are without hope.

There are places beyond Miner County and those next to South Dakota’s largest communities who are experiencing positive job growth. And we need to start asking why? Perhaps that’s coming in a future report by the Rural Life Census Data Center. Or perhaps you know the answer.

Note: I took note of the job growth in Miner County because it is the home to this blog. The work of the Rural Learning Center attempts to build on the economic model being used in Miner County, so highlighting a few elements of its economy provides context to the writing here.

Image Credit: The map is presented as a part of the “Private Industry Change in South Dakota” report, prepared by the Rural Life Census Data Center.

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Trust Building - the greatest benefit of the U Process

December 4th, 2008

In a post earlier this week, Joe Bartmann told us that even though using the U Process in creating a community plan takes time and effort, its valuable because the resulting  “aha moments” lead to innovations that otherwise might have been missed.   I agree.  But I’d like to argue an equally important outcome is that the U Process can lead to greater community trust.

This point became clear Tuesday evening when I was in Faulkton, SD with Joe and Lindsey Karlson.  We were there to work with community members on the creation of a Faulk County community development plan. 

Early in the evening Joe explained to the group that he attributes Miner County’s current success to the community’s use of the U Process to develop its plan.  Because we “dug in deep” on issues (the left side of the U), we were able to institute greater change (on the right side).  That may be true, but let me clarify with the following:

Now, not everybody liked the process.  We lost many individuals along the way who felt there were too many meetings and too much talk.  But those of us who stuck with the process got a chance to know people in the community we would otherwise never have met.  And through getting to know each other better, we came to trust each other better.   

Sociologists have labeled the trust that I am talking about as “social capital.”    More importantly, they have recognized that communities with high levels of social capital are more likely to give the community’s “doers” (both people and organizations) permission to work on the community’s behalf. 

That’s no small thing.  Because if the community lacks trust, even the best projects can turn into community battles.   And then nothing changes, and nobody wins. 

 So to me, the beauty of using the U Process to create a community plan is that it helps build trust.  Going through the process may seem to waste time in the short run, but many in the long run, I think it saved both time and money.

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