Elk River Energy Expo a smash hit

by Elizabeth Nelson

The Christopher Columbus of our time.

That’s how Dave Hauer, the principle of Meadowvale Elementary, described Arctic explorer Will Steger - the guest speaker at the Feb. 27 Elk River Energy Expo.

Steger’s experience includes more than 40 years of traveling the arctic regions and seeing first hand the melting of ice caps.

His presentation included a mix of photos, video and graphics describing global warming.

“I listened to Will Steger and I was very impressed by not just his pictures on the screen, but also by his comments,” Hauer said.

In retrospect he said he wishes he encouraged more students to attend the presentation.

“

A large majority there were adults and I think that just would have been a great thing for kids to hear,” he said. “To me he’s the Christopher Columbus of our time, I mean he’s an explorer and you don’t get to personally see that up and close.”

Hauer’s family is also part of the Project Conserve program in Elk River, and so far he said they’ve seen a difference in their utilities.

Vance Zehringer, an energy consultant for Elk River Municipal Utilities, agreed with the impact Steger’s presentation made.

“It’s eye opening for people who feel that there’s no such thing as global warming,” he said.

Afterwards, Zehringer said he talked to one person who was initially didn't believe in global warming, but after Steger’s presentation feels like there could really be something to it after all.

“It gets people thinking along the lines that ‘hey there is such a thing as global warming,’” Zehringer said.

For the past three years the city of Elk River has been trying to get Will Steger to present at the Energy Expos, however, since they were always in April he was unable to attend as he’s normally out on an expedition.

But this year, he was able to come, and even gave 50 percent of his usual customary fee, Zehringer said.

Aside from the global warming presentation, Zehringer said this expo was the best one yet in terms of the cross-section of exhibitors and having an auditorium available.

Its estimated that more than 600 attended the expo, with about 310 coming to see Steger speak.

Zehringer said that at points in the afternoon the venue was so packed it was hard to even walk down some of the isles to check out the exhibitors.

Rebecca Haug, the environmental administrator for the city of Elk River said she too only heard positive comments about this years expo, adding many liked the new venue and the food  - Blink Bonnie Subs and Dunn Bros.

In all there were a little more than 50 businesses at the expo.

In order to attend a business had to display something that had to do with conserving energy and natural resources, Haug said.

For example, Elk River Ford Dodge Jeep was there showing a hybrid vehicle, and many of the power companies were talking about the rebates available.

The younger kids also enjoyed the expo, Haug said. 

Tricha & the Toonies were there for the little kids and many enjoyed building a “Luscious Landfill,” which was a landfill made out of candy.

Waste Management taught about landfills and how to make one to a group of six kids, and then those kids continued on to teach it to others.

For example, licorice ropes were used as piping and the kids were able to teach that the pipes take the water and treat it, Haug said.

Early Childhood Family Education also had an area set up to teach kids how to make toys out of every day things in the house.

For example, a pair of binoculars were made from an empty toilet paper roll. Pop bottle bowling was also a really big hit, Haug said.

The message was basic. “You don’t have to go and buy toys, you can just use some of the stuff you have around the house,” she said.

“I think we’re reached a point to where the Energy Expo is going to continue every year and grown from here,” Zehringer said, adding that residents can expect an Energy Expo every year here on out.

See the online article from the Star News website - Mar 4, 2010