♪ MAARJA: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: AND I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, WE ARE DISCUSSING RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH WOLF RIVER ELECTRIC COMPANY.

MAARJA: PLUS WE ARE CATCHING UP WITH AN ASPIRING PROFESSIONAL VOCALIST WHO YOU WILL REMEMBER FROM HER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE.

BRETT: THAT'S ALL COMING UP.

BUT FIRST WE BEGIN THIS EVENING -- THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE RAIN, HAIL, AND SNOW NETWORK.

VOLUNTEERS MEASURE SNOWFALL IN THEIR BACKYARDS USING A FOUR-INCH RAIN GAUGE AND SUBMIT DATA ONLINE.

THIS CRITICAL INFORMATION HELPS TRACK PRECIPITATION AND CLIMATE TRENDS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHILE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED STATEWIDE, THERE'S A PARTICULAR NEED OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES METRO.

IT'S A GREAT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY FOR FAMILIES AND WEATHER ENTHUSIASTS.

MINNESOTA HAS LED THE NATION IN VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, AND THEY AIM TO KEEP THAT TRADITION GOING.

MAARJA: ESSENTIA HEALTH IS CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF ST. MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER THROUGH COMMUNITY DONATIONS AS THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD HOSPITAL REACHES ITS FINAL PHASE.

AFTER MOVING TO A NEW FACILITY, ESSENTIA DONATED SUPPLIES TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN TO RURAL CLINICS IN GHANA.

ITEMS LIKE OFFICE FURNITURE, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND CLEANING SUPPLIES HAVE SUPPORTED SCHOOLS, FIRE STATIONS, NONPROFITS, AND MORE.

BRETT: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOST THE TWIN PORTS FESTIVAL OF HISTORY AND THE REOPENING OF VETERAN'S MEMORIAL HALL ON TUESDAY, APRIL THE 8TH, FROM 5:00 TO 8:30 P.M. AT THE DEPOT.

THE EVENT FEATURES A SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON WPA ART IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA BY BRIAN AND SUE MATUSZAK, ALONG WITH EXHIBITS OF WPA-ERA ARTWORK.

AT 6:30 P.M., A RIBBON CUTTING WILL CELEBRATE THE RESTORED VETERAN'S MEMORIAL HALL, HIGHLIGHTING STORIES AND ARTIFACTS FROM LOCAL VETERANS.

MAARJA: MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON IS LEADING A COALITION OF FOUR STATES IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND CITIBANK TO PROTECT FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CLEAN-ENERGY PROJECTS IN MINNESOTA.

THE FUNDS, INTENDED TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES, WERE BLOCKED BY THE EPA AND CITIBANK DESPITE BEING APPROVED BY CONGRESS THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

ELLISON ARGUES THE ACTIONS VIOLATE THE LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES.

THE LAWSUIT SEEKS TO ENSURE THE FUNDS ARE RELEASED AS REQUIRED FOR MINNESOTA'S GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES.

BRETT: ON THIS WEEK'S "MAKING IT UP NORTH" -- OUR TEAM SAT DOWN WITH ELSA PEARSON TO DISCUSS WHAT SHE THINKS MAKES THE PERFORMING ARTS SO SPECIAL.

>> MY NAME IS ELSA PEARSON.

I AM A STUDENT AT UMD.

THE SEMESTER, I AM GRADUATING WITH A BA IN MUSIC WITH A CLASSICAL VOICE AND PROCESS AND BFA IN ACTING.

I BEGAN MY MUSIC ENDEAVORS BY PLAYING VIOLIN WHEN I WAS IN FIFTH GRADE AND DOING MUSICAL THEATER AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND THEN FROM THAT TIME UNTIL NOW, I HAVE BEEN DOING CHOIR, ORCHESTRA, OPERA, IMPROV THEATER, AND ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE LED ME ONTO A PATH OF PERFORMING ARTS THAT I AM PURSUING PROFESSIONALLY.

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START SINGING, I WAS SINGING FOR A FUN ALL THE TIME AS A KID IN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND ONE DAY, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS AUDITIONING FOR A MUSICAL, I THINK IT WAS "BYE, BYE, BIRDIE."

MY CHOIR TEACHER ASKED, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED JOINING CHOIR?

I HAD NOT UNTIL THEN SO I TRIED JOINING CHOIR AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT REALLY CLICKED WITH ME, AND THAT LED ME TO START DOING VOICE LESSONS IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND I LOVED THAT A LOT.

I CONTINUED DOING THEM IN COLLEGE.

I MET RACHEL, MY VOICE TEACHER, WHO WELCOMED ME INTO HER VOICE STUDIO AND SO DID MY MUSICAL THEATER VOICE TEACHER, THOMAS JACOBSON.

THOSE ARE PROBABLY MY BIGGEST INFLUENCES IN SINGING, THEY HAVE GUIDED ME SO MUCH AND TURNED ME INTO THE SINKER THAT I AM HERE WHAT I HEARD ABOUT THIS COMPETITION THROUGH MY VOICE TEACHER, RACHEL.

SHE HAS HAD STUDENTS TO THIS COMPETITION BEFORE AND HAVE HAD REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH IT.

SO SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO ENTER IT, AND I DID.

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER MUSICIANS IN THE NORTHERN MINNESOTA RANGE.

THE ARIAS I AM SINGING FOR THIS COMPETITION ARE TWO I HAVE HAD IN MY BOOK FOR A WHILE, I USED THEM FOR A COUPLE OF OTHER AUDITIONS AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCES.

AND FOR THIS COMPETITION, THE PRACTICE PROCESS WAS REALLY ABOUT FINDING NEW THINGS TO TWEAK ABOUT THEM, NEW WAYS TO DEVELOP MY ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THEM, MY TECHNIQUE, MY STORYTELLING.

IT INVOLVED TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT WHAT THE ARIAS MEANT.

THE FIRST AREA THAT I SANG WAS A POWERFUL AND COMPELLING PIECE.

IT STARTS WITH JUST A -- THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ORCHESTRA AND THEN THE SINGER BREAKS THROUGH WITH A SINGLE NOTE AND HOLDS A LITTLE BIT OF SILENCE AND CONTINUES WITH THE WORDS "GO, LET MY TEARS FLOW," IN FRENCH, AND THEN CONTINUES WITH THE SOMBER, SMOOTH FESTIVE ARIA.

AND IT IS SO ATTENTION GRABBING AND IT IS JUST SO RAW.

SO TO ME, THAT PIECE IS ABOUT REALLY LETTING THAT CRY THROUGH IN MUSIC.

THE OTHER PIECE, I CHOSE, BECAUSE IT CONTRASTS IT, BY MOZART.

THE PIECE, IT IS ABOUT A WOMAN LEARNING THAT HER LOVER, WHO WAS LYING, IS LEAVING HER.

AND IT IS A SPIRAL OF MADNESS.

SHE IS LAMENTING.

IT IS FULL OF SUPER QUICK THOUGHT CHANGES.

REALLY BOUNCY COMPOSITION.

TO ME, THERE'S A BALANCE OF FINDING THE REALNESS OF THAT GRIEF, THAT LAMENT, BUT ALSO THE CRAZINESS, AND THE COMEDY YOU CAN FIND WITHIN THAT REAL FEELING IN IT.

SO IT IS, LIKE, TWO DIFFERENT ANGLES OF SADNESS.

SOMETIMES SADNESS CAN BE LI GHT.

I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR SEEING THE WORK HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM.

THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY EUPHORIC ABOUT WHEN ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR JUST MANIFESTS INTO THAT PERFORMANCE.

AND THE FEELING OF EXCHANGING THAT ENERGY BETWEEN THE PERFORMERS AND THE AUDIENCE IS ABSOLUTELY UNMATCHED.

IT IS WHAT MAKES A PERFORMING ARTS SO IRREPLACEABLE AND SPECIAL IN THIS WORLD.

THAT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO.

♪ ♪ BRETT: OUR GUESTS THIS WEEK COME FROM WOLF RIVER ELECTRIC.

SOLAR PANEL COMPANY BASED OUT OF MINNESOTA.

THEY ARE HERE TO DISCUSS CLEAN, SUSTAINABLE, RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE CYNTHIA, JAKE, AND JUSTIN THIS EVENING.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

BRETT:BRETT: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WOLF RIVER ELECTRIC AND WHEN YOU STARTED.

>> WOLF RIVER ELECTRIC, WE STARTED IN 2014.

IT WAS JUST AN IDEA AT FIRST THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP DELIVER THE GREEN ENERGY CONCEPT AND MISSION TO OUR CUSTOMERS WHILE BEING ABLE TO SAVE THE MONEY AND MAKING IT A GOOD FINANCIAL DECISION AS WELL AS ONE THAT WAS TARGETED ON GREEN ENERGY IN GENERAL.

WE STARTED WITH LED LIGHTING AND WORKED WITH CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, HELPING THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INCENTIVES AND THE REBATES THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE STARTED WITH THAT.

WE SLOWLY WORKED OUR WAY INTO GENERAL ELECTRICAL.

AND ULTIMATELY INTO SOLAR.

>> SO, WHY FOCUS ON CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY?

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO US, WE ARE ALL FROM MINNESOTA AND WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO ULTIMATELY HELP THE ENVIRONMENT BUT THEN HELP PEOPLE, IT IS JUST A NO-BRAINER FOR US.

THERE'S NOTHING WE WOULD RATHER BE IN THE BUSINESS OF THAN DOING EXACTLY THAT.

BRETT: YOU'RE IN A HANDFUL OF STATES, FIVE STATES, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

BRETT: WHAT'S THE STATE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE MIDWESTERN REGION?

>> IT IS LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S GOT ITS HIGHS AND LOWS.

FOR THE CUSTOMER, WE WANT TO CATER EVERYTHING TO MAKE SENSE FOR THEM.

SO ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FOR THAT CUSTOMER, WE WILL CATER THAT SYSTEM, THE DESIGNS, THE NEEDS AND MAKE SURE IT IS HANDLED WHETHER IT IS WITH THE UTILITIES OR THE CITIES OR THE OVERALL DESIGN ITSELF WITH THE ENGINEERS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MAKES SENSE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SENSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR EVERY SINGLE HOMEOWNER.

WHEN WE COVER THAT PRIOR WITH THEM OBVIOUSLY.

WE HAVE TO EXCLUDE THAT RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WHEN IT DOES MAKE SENSE, WE CATER IT TO OFFSET THEIR BILLS COMPLETELY OR PUT A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY IN THEIR POCKET AND OVERALL HELP THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

MAARJA: WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS ABOUT INSTALLING THE SOLAR PANELS, WHAT DOES THAT CONVERSATION LOOK LIKE?

HOW ARE YOU PINCHING SOLAR FOR THEM?

>> WE TRY TO KEEP IT VERY SIMPLE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE TABOO TOPICS AND THINGS THAT ARE CONFUSING FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN IT COMES TO SOLAR, AND TO OWNING THEIR ENERGY, WE CALL IT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

WHAT WE DO IS WE COME IN, WE LOOK AT THEIR HOME AND THEIR POWER NEEDS.

THEN AS JAKE WAS SAYING, WE TRY TO COME UP WITH A CUSTOM SOLUTION TO MEET THEIR ENERGY NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF THE HOME.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR AI DESIGNS TO HELP THE CUSTOMER SEE EXACTLY WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THEIR HOME.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHERE WE CAN HELP THE CUSTOMER GET SOLAR ON THEIR HOME AND BECOME COMPLETELY ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

WHICH WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE ELIMINATE THEIR BILL THEN WE USE THE SOLAR SYSTEM TO PRODUCE ALL OR ALMOST ALL OF THEIR POWER NEEDS AND WE CAN DO IT WITH NO MONEY OUT OF POCKET AND WE CAN DO IT WITH BASICALLY THEY JUST TAKE WHATEVER THEY ARE PAYING RIGHT NOW TO THE POWER COMPANY WHATEVER IT IS AND THEY MOVE THAT OVER TO REALLOCATING THE FUNDS TO PAYING OFF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

WE TRY TO KEEP IT SUPER HIGH LEVEL AND EASY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND YOU CAN OWN YOUR ENERGY, JUST LIKE YOU OWN YOUR HOME.

BRETT: THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST GIVE OUT FREE INFORMATION.

THIS IS A NEW, TABOO THING THAT PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND SO WE WANT TO GIVE UP HER INFORMATION TO PEOPLE, AND WE WILL PUT A HOLD AS AN TOGETHER, WHAT THE PANELS WILL LOOK LIKE ON THE ROOF, HOW IT WOULD OFFSET THEIR CURRENT BILLS AND MAKE THEM LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE A DECISION, NO MONEY AT ALL JUST FROM THAT.

SO IT IS A SUPER USEFUL WAY FOR US TO JUST GET INFORMATION ACROSS TO THE CUSTOMERS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY COULD BE DOING, AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

BRETT: HE MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TAILORING IT TO EACH RESIDENT, EACH HOUSEHOLD.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

WHAT MAKES ONE RESIDENCE DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER?

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POWER NEED.

NOT EVERY CUSTOMER HAS THE SAME POWER NEED.

SOME PEOPLE, IT IS ONE PERSON LIVING IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOKING TO POWER THE POLE BARN -- POOL ARN OR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.

THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SHADE OR THE PITCH OF THE ROOF.

WHAT DIRECTION, THE SOUTH FACING SIDES OF THE ROOF.

THROUGH ALL THAT, WE HAVE A TOOL THAT WE USE THAT DESIGNS TO OPTIMIZE THE BEST OUTPUT FOR OUR SOLAR SYSTEM DEPENDING ON THE HOMEOWNER'S ENERGY NEEDS.

>> AND THE SAME SYSTEM WILL GAUGE EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE WINNERS, AND SNOW OF LESS SUNSHINE, IT WILL GAUGE OUT A FULL YEAR OF WHAT THE SYSTEM CAN PRODUCE.

IT'S A REALLY COOL FEATURE.

BRETT: REALLY GOOD IN THE WINTER.

>> WE ARE GOOD IN THE WINTER.

>> SOLAR IS GOING IN THE WINTER.

>> IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST NET METERING POLICY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA -- AND THE ENTIRE U.S. AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

EVERY TIME YOU OVERPRODUCE, IF WE BUILD THE SYSTEM TO OVERPRODUCE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET TO THOSE WINTER MONTHS OFF CREDIT THAT THE COMPANY GIVES YOU, BUT IN MINNESOTA, IF YOU OVERPRODUCE IN THE SUMMER, YOU ARE ABLE TO USE THOSE CREDITS GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE UTILITY IN THE WINTERTIME.

AND IF THERE'S ANY LEFT OVER, THEY WRITE YOU A CHECK, AND YOU ARE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THE EXCESS POWER THAT YOU PRODUCED WHICH IS REALLY COOL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

MAARJA: CYNTHIA, YOU ARE MANAGING ALL THE POLICIES ACROSS THESE DIFFERENT STATES.

WHAT -- ARE THEIR INCENTIVES STATE-BY-STATE, GRANTS?

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AND HOW YOU ARE HELPING WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE I GOT TO WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF INCENTIVE.

WE WORK WITH A LOT OF RURAL BUSINESSES.

WE WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW BECAUSE IT GETS COMPLICATED IS THERE IS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOLAR.

WE FALL INTO A CATEGORY THAT IS CALLED "DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE," AND THAT INCLUDES, IT CAN BE WIND ENERGY, ROOFTOP SOLAR, WHICH INCLUDES COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL, THAT IS ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER IT IS IN ANY OF THE FIVE STATES THAT WE ARE IN.

THERE'S ALSO COMMUNITY SOLAR WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED SOLAR BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE A UTILITY SCALE AND ALSO SOME OF THE SOLAR FARMS THAT MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, HAVE SEEN IN LARGE TRACTS OF LAND.

UNDERSTANDING WHERE ALL OF THAT GOES IS -- IT FEEDS INTO THE DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT WE HAVE.

NOW WE HAVE A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT OF 30% THAT IS ALLOCATED TO ANYBODY WHO PUTS A SOLAR SYSTEM ON THEIR PROPERTY AND/OR ROOF WHICH IS GREAT.

MINNESOTA IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THAT IN ADDITION.

BUT IT'S A CONSTANTLY CHANGING LANDSCAPE, REGARDLESS OF IT.

.

WE WORK IN NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND IN IOWA AND ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA.

SO LOOKING AT COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES, DIFFERENT UTILITIES IN MINNESOTA, MANY ARE NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE OVER 170 MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVE AND INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES.

SO, UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR LOCAL POLICIES ARE AND YOUR LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO NEVER GET TO THE PROCESS.

THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY WORK HARD IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEAM IS EDUCATED AND THAT WE CAN NAVIGATE AND COACH AND HANDHOLD OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> TOUGH FOR US BUT FOR THE CUSTOMERS, SUPER SIMPLE.

>> WE MAKE IT EASY.

BRETT: CRAZY BEHIND THE SCENES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY?

WHAT MAY WOULD KEEP SOMEONE FROM DOING IT -- MAYBE WOULD KEEP SOMEONE FROM DOING IT?

>> PEOPLE THINK IT IS EXPENSIVE.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT OFFER THE CUSTOMER ZERO DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS RIGHT NOW I'M SURE YOU LIVE CLOSE, YOU PAY $200 A MONTH FOR YOUR ELECTRIC BILL?

>> I DO.

>> IMAGINE, RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO REALLOCATE THE $200, PAID TO YOUR ELECTRICAL COMPANY FOR YOUR ELECTRICITY, ALL YOU WOULD DO IS GET SOLAR PANELS PUT ON YOUR HOME, THEY START PRODUCING POWER FOR IDEALLY MORE THAN ALL OF YOUR NEEDS, AND ALL YOU DO IS TAKE THE $200 YOU ARE PAYING TOWARDS UTILITY AND RE- ALLOCATE THAT TO PAYING THE SYSTEM.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT RAISES THE EQUITY IN THE VALLEY OF YOUR HOME THROUGH THE EQUITY OF EVERY PAYMENT THAT YOU MAKE -- AND THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME THROUGH THE EQUITY OF EVERY PAYMENT THAT YOU MAKE.

AND YOU ARE GOING FROM RENTING YOUR POWER TO OWNING YOUR POWER LIKE YOU OWN YOUR HOME.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCEPTION.

IT IS REALLY EXPENSIVE AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PUT THE MONEY INTO IT.

THE SECOND BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION IS THAT SOLAR IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

I WILL SAY THIS.

SOLAR IS FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S NOT FOR EVERY HOME.

BUT IT IS FOR EVERYBODY.

WE TRY TO COME UP WITH A WAY THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE BECOME ENERGY INDEPENDENT, IF THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS, WE HELP TRY TO FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION THAT WE SEE AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW.

MAARJA: WHERE DO YOU GUYS HOPE TO SEE RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IN 2, 3, 4, 5 YEARS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD YESTERDAY, WHICH STUCK WITH ME, IT IS A CHINESE PROVERB THAT SAYS, THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE WAS 20 YEARS AGO, AND THE SECOND BEST TIME IS TODAY.

WE HAVE A STATE MANDATE THAT WE ARE CARBON FREE BY 2040.

SO AGAIN, RENEWABLE ENERGY COMES IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FORMS, AND THAT IS NEGOTIATED AND CONSTANTLY DISCUSSED AT THE STATE LEVEL FROM THE LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT.

BUT WE NEED TO BE THINKING OUT FROM NOW, NOT JUST A 2040, BUT 2060 AND BEYOND, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HANDLE THE DEMANDS OF AN INCREASING ELECTRIFICATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE HAVE A GRADE THAT REALLY NEEDS SOME HELP.

BRETT: WE COULD JUST KEEP GOING.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT SOLAR FOR AN HOUR.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

JUSTIN, JAKE, CYNTHIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

MAARJA: LACE UP YOUR SKATES AND GRAB YOUR STICKS, WE ARE HITTING THE RINK WITH HOCKEY FINDER MINNESOTA, UNIQUE HOCKEY LEAGUE THAT'S BUILT AN IMPRESSIVE COMMUNITY HERE IN THE NORTH LAND.

>> HI, MY NAME IS DON GIROUX, I AM THE PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER OF THE HOCKEY LEAGUE.

>> AND CAITLIN, THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR A LOT OF THE DULUTH LEAGUES AND HOCKEY FINDER.

>> HOCKEY FINDER WAS FOUNDED IN 2008.

I HAD JUST MOVED TO THE TWIN CITIES AND WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PLAY.

>> I WAS IN EL SALVADOR AND CAME BACK IN 2012 AS AN ADULT AND DID NOT HAVE FRIENDS OR A SOCIAL NETWORK AND I WAS JUST LITERALLY GOOGLING ADULT HOCKEY IN MINNESOTA AND I FOUND HOCKEY FINDER.

>> I'VE BEEN PLAYING SOME WOMEN'S LEAGUE AND I WAS LOOKING TO PLAY MORE HOCKEY -- HAVE PLAYED HOCKEY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

JUST DOING A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND HOCKEY FINDER.

I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS THAT?

I SAW I COULD SIGN UP AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEN START TO PLAY.

I WAS LIKE, THAT IS PERFECT.

IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.

OBVIOUSLY I HAVE FRIENDS HERE.

BUT I WAS LIKE -- I CAN MEET NEW PEOPLE, I CAN PLAY MORE.

I CAN PLAY MORE REGULARLY.

>> THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED IS WE START THESE DIVISIONS OF OUR LEAGUE IN DIFFERENT AREAS, WE WILL PICK A NIGHT OF THE WEEK, AND THEN SKILL LEVEL RANGE, AND WE WILL FIND A DIVISION MANAGER TO HELP US MAINTAIN THAT DIVISION, KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

IT IS REALLY THEM THAT HELP MAINTAIN THE LEAGUE.

>> WOULD LIKE TO SWITCH OUR TEAMS UP EVERY SESSION.

THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE ARE HERE TO MEET PEOPLE AND MAKE FRIENDS.

>> WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GROW AND EXPAND.

WE THINK WE HAVE FOUND A SECRET SAUCE OF GETTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN DULUTH.

THERE ARE SO MANY PRIVATE PICKUP GAMES.

>> WHAT KIND OF FIND, WHEN YOU SWITCH TEAMS UP, YOU MEET MORE PEOPLE AND GET TO PLAY WITH EVERYBODY.

IT KEEPS GROWING YOUR FRIEND GROUP.

AND WE ALWAYS SAY, DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, AND WE HAVE TO PLAY WITH SOMEBODY AT EVERY POINT IN TIME AND I THINK THAT IS GREAT.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TEAMS THAT PLAY TOGETHER FOREVER AND YOU CREATE CLICKS AND DRAMA AND THERE CAN BE FIGHTS BUT YOU MIGHT SAY, THE NEXT SESSION YOU PLAY WITH HIM, YOU ARE LIKE, ACTUALLY, I LOVE THIS GUY, THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND.

>> THAT'S THE COOLEST THING WE OFFER WITH HOCKEY FINDER, WE HAVE FOLKS IN THEIR 60'S THAT HAVE NEVER SKATED A DAY IN THEIR LIFE AND COMPLETE BEGINNER LEAGUES.

THEY GET BIT BY THE BUG AND THEY JUST WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING OR SKATING I SHOULD SAY.

>> ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, HE ACTUALLY LIVES IN DULUTH, HE MOVED THERE.

>> I MET MY WIFE TO HOCKEY FINDER.

I THINK SOME OF MY FINEST MEMORIES WERE EARLY ON, WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS PRIOR TO DATING, AND I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF WHEN WE FINALLY CONNECTED AND CAME TO HANG OUT WITH THE TEAM, GETTING TOGETHER AFTER THE GAME WITH HER FRIENDS.

DON, HE WAS IN MY WEDDING PARTY.

MY OFFICIANT IN THE WEDDING.

WE PLAYED HOCKEY FOR 10 YEARS.

>> HAVE BEEN INVITED TO AT LEAST 10 WEDDINGS OF PEOPLE I MET THROUGH THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY PLAYING TOGETHER.

SO, WEDDINGS, BUT MORE THAN THAT, LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS.

WE GOT PEOPLE PLAYING TOGETHER NOW FOR 15 YEARS.

>> YOU WON'T BE PLAYING WITH SKATERS AT ARE PLAYING CIRCLES AROUND YOU AND THAT KIND OF THING.

YOU SUCCEED IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PLAYERS, YOU COULD BE BEGINNER OR ADVANCED, HAVING PLAYED COLLEGE, PROFESSIONALLY AND OTHER DIVISIONS.

WE CAN FIND A HOME FOR EVERYONE.

WE CERTAINLY LOVE TO BRING NEW PLAYERS INTO THE GAME AND GROW THE GAME LOCALLY.

>> HOCKEY IS BRINGING US TOGETHER, BUT IT'S REALLY THE COMMUNITY THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL.

THE REASON WHY I THINK WE HAVE GROWN TO THE SIZE WE ARE.

♪ MAARJA: I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE A BAD MINNESOTAN, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY.

BRETT: SAME.

MAARJA: BUT THEY SAY THEY TAKE BEGINNER'S.

BRETT: LET'S DO IT.

MAARJA: THEY SAID SOME PEOPLE ARE 60 AND THEY SKATE.

BRETT: WE COULD BE THERE NEXT YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] WE WILL BE ON THE WIL BEFORED -- THE WILD BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

SATURDAY, A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

GREEN ENVY 2025 IS BACK AND READY TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING AT THE GREENHOUSE.

ATTENDEES CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A VARIETY OF DELICIOUS APPETIZERS, FESTIVE MUSIC, DOOR PRIZES AND A CREATIVE PAINTING ACTIVITY, THE EVENT RUNS FROM 1:00 TO 4:00 P.M.. MAARJA: ALSO SATURDAY, TAKE A TOUR OF THE NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL CAMPUS.

YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT THE RICH FOLK SCHOOL TRADITION FROM THE BLACKSMITH SHOP, TO THE WORKSHOP, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

THE TOUR STARTS AT 4:00 P.M. AND MEETS AT THE YELLOW BUILDING.

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED IN THE TOURS ARE FREE TO ATTEND.

VISIT NORTH SHORE VISITOR.COM.

BRETT: AND SUNDAY DURING THE FIRST OF FIVE COMMUNITY SHARING CIRCLES AT THE WATER STOP INFO PHOTOSHOP ON 2ND AVENUE DULUTH.

THE SHARING CIRCLE IS A NONJUDGMENTAL AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PARTICIPANTS TAKE TURNS SHARING WHAT IS ON THEIR HEARTS.

THE EVENT STARTS AT 1:00 P.M. AND RUNS UNTIL 3:00 P.M.. FOR THOSE INTERESTED, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT EMERGENT SEALS.ORG/WATER STOP.

INTERESTING.

I WOULD NEED MORE THAN TWO HOURS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME.

[LAUGHTER] THERE'S A LOT.

MAARJA: MAYBE SEE IF YOU CAN EXTEND IT.

A LOT TO DO ON THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF SPRING.

SO GO OUT AND ENJOY IT.

ENJOY THE SUNSHINE.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW.

GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

BRETT: I'M BRETT SCOTT.

MAARJA: AND I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪