t might seem difficult to believe in the shadow of winter, with daylight seemingly limited to that time between rush hours. But the sun is rising on a project that hopes to light the way for community members sharing the same goals of demonstrating alternative energy’s practical uses through solar cells mounted on the roof of the Old Man River Cafe, 879 Smith Ave. So., in West St. Paul.
The Sunny Side Project will directly provide about one kilowatt of photovoltaic energy, about the equivalent of the energy used by the cafe’s coffee roaster--a fact semi-jokingly pointed to in references to having the world’s first solar-powered, shade-grown coffee.
More seriously, backers of the $12,000 project--which include over 50 community members, cafe owners Jon Kerr and Chuck Debevec and the state of Minnesota through its rebate program--see Sunny Side as a shared opportunity to show their commitment to solar and other alternative energy options to fossil fuels. Issues such as cost, technical expertise and physical location were overcome by working together.
“We saw this as a good way to demonstrate that we can join with other people to overcome barriers. It doesn’t just make clean energy, it builds stronger communities. This is something that could be a model for lots of places,” said West Sider Adele Binning, who with husband Tom Klein were early leaders in the Sunny Side Project.
“It gives people the opportunity to put their money into renewable energy in a way that maximizes benefits,” said West Sider David Boyce, who with his wife Lee Olson had already made a commitment to solar energy by placing panels on the roof of their home. “Not everyone has the right situation to do this. The cafe has a high, flat roof with great southern exposure. People could see the benefits of putting a little money into something that’s a community institution.”
Old Man River owners plan to offer a series of environmental-themed events and ongoing educational information about the solar system when it is finally operational this month, pending approval by Xcel Energy officials. Already it has been part of the Twin Cities Solar Tour and the Green Living Expo, and the Sunny Side Project has drawn interest from across the state and region. Installation of the panels was part of a Green Institute of Minneapolis class project that included students from across the country.
Thinking global and acting local is part of what drew the early support of Pat and J. Drake Hamilton.
“We feel strongly about the need for development of renewable energy in an urban setting,” said Pat Hamilton, an exhibit coordinator at the Science Museum. “In order for the cost of solar to drop there have to early pioneers so it will be cheaper for those who follow. ...And the cost is small when you compare them against the enormous costs of climate change. Solar is one of the few energies that is completely clean.”
Long-term payback is a strength not a weakness of the Sunny Side Project say all participants. Hopes are that the solar system can eventually be expanded to power the entire coffee shop.
“The payback is a lot better than a car and when you figure in things like health benefits of limiting coal burning at the High Bridge Plant, the fish contamination of the Mississippi, and the other effects on this community, it really seems cheap,” said Boyce. “People don’t realize what they’re really paying for most electricity.”
Binning sees the project has an ongoing educational opportunity.
“So many people take for granted that electricity just comes out of the wall when they flip a switch. A project like this that involves so many community members can raise a lot of consciousness. ...This is an exciting opportunity to spread the word and show other people.”