(04/12/2024) The City of Coon Rapids recognized the Anoka-Hennepin School District with an Earth Month Sustainability Award at its regular City Council meeting on April 2. Greg Cole, district Chief Operations Officer, accepted the award on behalf of Anoka-Hennepin. 

The district was recognized for its sustainability efforts with the installation of solar panels at Adams and Hoover elementary schools. The Coon Rapids Sustainability Commission asked the City Council to proclaim April 2024 as Earth Month in the City of Coon Rapids before presenting awards. 

Anoka-Hennepin recently entered a no-cost agreement with Ideal Energy and Xcel Energy to install solar panels at both schools. The goal is to improve energy efficiency to reduce costs across the system, and solar energy is an area the district is exploring as a possible energy savings tool.

Between solar-generated energy and electric energy (which will still be required for total energy needs), the projected energy utility savings range from 10-25% annually at each site over the next 20 years. After 20 years, the district will own the solar panels outright and realize 100% of the energy savings generated by the solar panels.