Xcel Energy plans to ‘Power Your Community’

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A new Xcel Energy program called “Powering Your Community” kicked off in Woodbury this week with a chamber event Thursday morning.

The program is aimed to educate residents of the community about energy conservation and environmental awareness, said Colette Jurek, community relations manager for Xcel.

“We’re actually going to be doing a three-month very focused initiative within Woodbury that’s primarily going to occur in August, September and October,” she said. “People are going to be seeing a lot of us over the next three months.”

Xcel has partnered with the city of Woodbury on a sustainability initiative that started back in 2005.

Jurek said the city’s goal was to establish some policies to protect the environment and preserve natural areas.

Powering Your Community is a pilot program starting in Woodbury and Eden Prairie this year.

As part of it, Xcel representatives will be present at a number of upcoming community events to talk to residents and businesses about environmental sustainability.

“We want to look to develop best practices for community outreach to engage customers and local leaders in conversation and awareness about energy issues,” Jurek said.

One of the big events that Xcel is participating in will be at Woodbury Days, Aug. 24-26. The company will have a display booth and employees will be available for questions.

Jurek encourages residents and business owners to stop by the Xcel Woodbury Days booth to learn about the program and talk about the sustainability initiative.

“It’s really good for the environment, it’s very good for the local business, and I think it helps homeowners with their energy usage in their home in terms of conservation and lowering their bills,” she said.

Woodbury was selected as one of the first cities to participate in the program because of the common interest shared with the company, said Al Krug, director of customer and community affairs for Xcel.

“This program builds upon our already strong relationships with Woodbury businesses, community leaders, nonprofit organizations and residents,” he said.

The first event was held at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with Good Morning Woodbury at the Chamber of Commerce.

Remaining program of events:

-Aug. 17: Eggs n’ Issues, Woodbury Chamber

-Aug. 24: Monthly business luncheon, Woodbury Chamber

-Aug. 24-26: Woodbury Days

-Oct. 12: Habitat for Humanity, Garden Gate project

-Oct. 19: Eggs n’ Issues, Woodbury Chamber

-Nov. 2: Business Symposium, Woodbury Chamber

Tags: area news, news, woodbury