This month Ely Climate Group will meet on MONDAY August 17th at 4pm at the Ely Community Center (27 S 1st Ave East, Ely MN). Our change of meeting day is because our usual meeting date is also MN’s primary election day and ECC is a busy voting site. We hope you will vote on Aug 11th, and that you will be able to join us on Aug 17th. Our topic this month is “Resilience Hubs”. As usual we will meet in person and by zoom, there is a zoom link below.
Last month we cancelled our meeting with Aaron Kania. Our timing was just at the peak of fire, smoke and evacuations. We were all getting our go-bags packed. Some of us left and some of us stayed. I read that 24 hours in an air quality index (AQI) of 1000 is about equal to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day but you don’t think of that when you are worried that your home might burn down. We regret missing a conversation with Aaron and have invited him to come again.
In Ely a group rapidly assembled to help the evacuees. They called themselves the Ely Community Response Team (ECRT) and used facilities at the State Theater to coordinate offers of help with people in need. ECRT members put in a lot of well-planned time and effort coordinating services when they were most needed. They showed what a caring community we have in Ely. We are grateful for their work. Look for their updates on their Facebook page.
“The Ely Community Response Team is a grassroots volunteer group formed during northern Minnesota’s summer wildfires to connect residents with vital resources like N95 masks, air purifiers, and volunteer support. The team acted as a central hub to redirect donations, assist with pet evacuations, and raise funds for local fire departments.”
Members from ECRT will join us at our next meeting together with Bret Pence from Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL). Bret has been working on creating “Resilience Hubs” for community use in case of emergencies. You can read details of his work here: https://www.mnipl.org/movement-building/resilience-hubs/ . This topic was in the plans for a Climate Group meeting before our fires, but we have by fortunate or unfortunate chance hit the precise time when we are all paying attention. We hope to have an active discussion with ECRT, Bret and community members who have hands on experience.
Topic: Ely Climate Group meeting
Time: Aug 17, 2026 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Finally a word about solar energy. The 30% federal rebate for nonprofits and businesses (but sadly not for homeowners) to install solar remains available until December of 2026. It may actually become a 40% or 50% rebate when state incentives are included. There are also some rebates for battery storage for both homeowners and businesses. If you are interested in a FREE evaluation of your business or home’s solar potential there are 2 excellent installers who work in this area and both are willing to visit your site and give you an estimate of costs and savings. They are:
Both Dane and Rickey know and approve of this message Ely Climate Group members to encourage more local solar installations. With electrical power rates expected to rise this is can be a good investment even without rebates. Contact Dane and/or Rickey directly if you are interested to set a date and time for a visit.
Thanks for all your help and interest, hoping to see you Monday August 17th
This month we will meet on June 9th at 4pm at the Ely Community Center to hear Andrea Strom from Ely’s Brainstorm Bakery on Sheridan St. thinking about sustainability for her business, and Steve Piragis on his long experience with solar power in Ely.
Like Andrea, Steve Piragis needs little introduction to Elyites. But, of course, there is a web page that tells the back story and has more info than many of us know. https://www.piragis.com/home/about-us.html. Nancy and Steve started Piragis Northwood’s store in 1979. They were early adopters of solar and heat pumps both at the store and their home. Some years ago Steve was part of a group trying to centralize power and heat in Ely with the same goals we still have – to reduce costs, increase efficiency and decrease the CO2 we emit.
You can hear the full story on Tuesday May 12th, 4pm at the Ely Community Center, or by zoom. All are welcome. Here is the zoom link:
Topic: Ely Climate Group meeting with Andrea Strom and Steve Piragis
Time: Jun 9, 2026 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
If you missed it, our April meeting with Keith Steva on electronics recycling and his plans for a new local venture “Reclaiming Critical Metals” is available on YouTube here:
Our upcoming meeting for July is July 14 Tues 4pm – Aaron Kania, candidate for MN House District 3A
Finally, to reduce electrical energy use and decrease the CO2 we emit, Ely Climate Group is teaming with MNIPL (Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light) to promote solar energy. The federal incentives supporting installation of new solar arrays on businesses and non-profits are still available! That is a 30% subsidy for clients getting started before the end of 2026. Sadly these funds are not available for private homes. The attached flyer gives more details. We will take a few minutes to talk about the program on Tuesday.
Thanks for all your help and interest, hoping to see you Tues June 9th
This month we will meet on May 12th at 4pm at the Ely Community Center to hear Keith Steva talk about his plans to process electronic waste here in Northern Minnesota. This project will turn e-waste into valuable materials, reduce our need for newly mined materials, and create jobs! His website says it all “Reclaiming Critical Metals – Locally, Sustainably, Responsibly” https://reclaimingcriticalmetals.com/
This material comes from their website:
“Electronic waste is growing at the rate of 40% per decade, and much of it ends up in landfills or is shipped overseas for processing. This leads to a loss of valuable metals, harm to local economies and increased environmental and health issues.
In MN almost 6 million people each generate about 46 lbs. of e-waste per year. Contained in that waste are 68 critical elements worth over $3 billion. (Yes, $3 BILLION) In 2023 only 23% of that gets recycled. 70% of the heavy metals like the lead and mercury found in landfills come from e-waste. The useful metals in e-waste include copper, nickel, palladium, iron, lead, tin, aluminum, and zinc, among others. Metals are infinitely recyclable. The avoided toxicity and high quality of recycled products makes recycling e-waste a win-win proposition for environmental and human health.”
You can hear the full story on Tuesday May 12th, 4pm at the Ely Community Center, or by zoom. All are welcome. The zoom recording is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h1msXrqRCY&t=435s
June 9, Tues 4pm – Andrea Strom from Ely’s Brainstorm/Crapola on being environmentally aware and composting, and Steve Piragis on his experiences with solar power in Ely
July 14 Tues 4pm – Aaron Kania, candidate for MN House District 3A
Thanks to the helpers who cleaned up Trezona Trail on Arbor Day.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday April 14th at 4pm at the Ely Senior Center. As usual it will be in person and by zoom.
Our topic develops the theme we started in January “What can we do locally to mitigate climate problems?”. We are now giving the spotlight to local businesses who have made decisions to use solar energy to save costs and reduce their carbon footprints. Our speakers this month are Dan Houle and Denise Myers from the Lodge of Whispering Pines.
Dan and Denise run a 12-month a year off-grid resort up the Echo Trail. They have a large solar panel installation and batteries which has allowed them to reduce their reliance on a backup diesel generator. They will discuss costs and advantages. They report that some visitors specifically chose to come because of the “green energy” operation.
You can find the recording of this presentation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcGO0GzeMiA&t=354s
The Ely Climate group welcomes you to discuss “What Can I Do about Climate Change” at 4pm on Feb 10th at the Ely Community Center. This meeting is in person and by zoom. Look for the zoom link at https://elyminnesota.com/elyclimate/ Come to share what you think works, what you are doing, and what ideas have a chance of making a difference. You may get some inspiration, we can learn from each other. All are welcome.
We will watch part of a video from Heidi Roop (University Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership) you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPTLVxvltLA.
You may also want to find her book “The Climate Action Handbook”
Bring your own ideas, tell us what efforts you make in your own life! Be inspired by others. Learn about new tech and old tech to save energy. Learn about beef and beans and amino acids and much more!
Next Tuesday Nov 11ththe Ely Climate Group will meet at 4pm in in the renovated Community Center (formerly the Senior Center). We will be in the smaller room on the left as you enter. This month we welcome our old friend Jeff Hanson from Babbitt. Jeff is the founder of Clearwater Biologic LLC and is working on inexpensive novel ways to clean sulfate discharges from mine waste water. His topic is “Green Steel with Clean Water”. As usual this will be both in person and by zoom, here is the zoom link:
Some years ago Jeff talked at Tuesday Group to tell us about a new and inexpensive technique for cleaning sulfate from mine waste water. Sulfates adversely affect wild rice, and make mercury bio-available for fish. Although Minnesota has laws limiting the amout of sulfate allowed in mine drainage these laws are not enforced. Mine owners claim the costs to control sulfates is so high that it would cause a shut down. Even Jeff’s cheaper option is more expensive than doing nothing at all. Jeff has been active creating a demonstration project with funding from LCCMR to show that the costs and benefits work at scale. In fact the material cleaned from the water is in itself a saleable useful product.
Jeff is also part of a new non-profit called Northern Minnesota New Iron and Clean Energy (NICE) which is focused on sustainable, clean energy-based, climate and environmental solutions for our region. “Using Minnesota’s clean energy, iron resources and technology to manufacture climate solutions that benefit communities and the environment.”
On Tuesday Oct 7th the Ely Climate Group and the Ely Green Team will join with Tuesday Group at noon at the Grand Ely Lodge to hear Kristin Mroz and Erica Bjelland from Minnesota’s GreenStep Cities program and Nik Allen from CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) talking about ELY’s membership in the GreeenStep program. Their title is “City of Ely, Stepping-Up Green Initiatives”.
The City of Ely joined the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program in 2014. GreenStep is a challenge, assistance, and recognition program for communities working towards improving their sustainable practices. Program Coordinators, Kristin Mroz and Erica Bjelland, will be highlighting how the city has advanced through the program since then and discuss additional ways for the city, and the broader community, to achieve sustainability best practices. As usual this will be in person and by zoom.
Here is a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GegMzbw39Z4&t=362s
Later that day Kristin and Erica will present the Ely Mayor and City Council with Ely’s Level Three Green Step Plaque at the City Council meeting. This is preceded by a GreenStep Group Meet and Greet at 4:00 – 5:00pm in the Council Chambers Lobby at City Hall, 209 E Chapman St. There will be light refreshments. All are welcome for the Meet and Greet, and also to stay for the presentation at the Council Meeting in City Hall 5:30 – 7:00pm.
The next meeting of the Ely Climate Group will be on Tuesday September 16th at 4pm at the HUB. The Ely Area Community Hub is at 760 Miners Drive. Please note this is a new venue for us!
Our topic this month is our trash, meaning the solid waste that we discard. How can we follow the maxim of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse here in our area? We have an expert to tell us how good practices were adopted in Detroit Lakes, MN. If they can do it in Becker County which is not so far away, can’t we do it in St Louis County? Our speaker, Sandy Gunderson, who will be telling us all the details. Her title is
It’s Not Trash, It’s a Resource
Sandy is the recently retired household hazardous waste coordinator, recycling coordinator and waste educator for Becker County. They have established an operational system that catches reusable items from the solid waste stream for resale as useful commodities providing a service to the community and keeping waste out of the landfill. Sandy works to “help people understand the impacts our social systems can have on our natural systems” and help businesses and residents “see waste in a different way.”
I found an excellent article on Sandy in the Detroit Lakes Tribune. To avoid their paywall I have attached a file to give you more background.
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