Augusta National Golf Course is famous for hosting The Masters every year; Albatros at Le Golf National is where the world watched Scottie Scheffler take home the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But despite the lack of presence of a PGA legend or an Olympic champion, what was formerly known as Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota, has also been in the spotlight over the last few months, but not for the reasons one may assume.
Thanks to the partnership between master developer the Saint Paul Port Authority and Ever-Green Energy, what was once a watering hole for local St. Paul golf aficionados, is now home to a project that will advance both sustainability and equity for the surrounding community. In October 2024, Ever-Green Energy celebrated the groundbreaking of an innovative geothermal energy system, in fact, the first aquifer thermal energy storage system in Minnesota – at a redevelopment known as “The Heights.”
The History
Ever-Green Energy’s expertise as a utility and operator advisor has allowed them to guide their partners from the conception of an idea to the implementation of innovative energy solutions that are financially viable, resilient to changing markets and environmentally responsible. Ever-Green Energy’s track record of helping organizations reach goals like carbon neutrality, and designing, developing and advancing systems for increased sustainability has led to various recognitions including the Climate and Energy Award from the Environmental Initiative and the Engineering in Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies.
The organization is known for undertaking projects that will lead to community benefit. Born out of District Energy St. Paul, Ever-Green Energy focuses on advancing energy systems so that campuses and communities can reach their goals. The Heights geothermal district energy project, coined The Heights Community Energy, is no different.
The Heights
What would traditionally be run on fossil fuels is on its way to becoming a carbon-neutral community. A 112-acre brownfield will soon be 1,000 housing units, light industrial facilities, and 12 acres of green space. When completed, the community will run on a Thermal Energy System (TES), allowing for renewable energy to heat and cool buildings and the elimination of natural gas, reliable energy services, and cost-based rates.
Additionally, to avoid the use of fossil fuels, Ever-Green Energy developed an Aquifer Thermal Energy System (ATES) that uses wells, piping networks and heat pumps to move heating and cooling between buildings in the community and with the local aquifer. Not only does this technology allow for district heating without on-site natural gas consumption, but when coupled with renewable electricity, it will produce net-zero carbon emissions.
The Funding
According to the Institute for Energy Research, the global energy transition will cost about $3 trillion a year. In other words, advancing sustainability efforts and decarbonization goals can be expensive. For non-profit utilities like The Heights Community Energy, Minnesota’s green bank was a great option when private investors were not.
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill to fund the green bank, Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA), with the goal of accelerating “the adoption of proven clean energy technology and greenhouse gas reduction projects to expand access to untapped markets and to bring benefits to historically underserved communities,” per the Minnesota Commerce Department of Energy and Utilities. About a year after the inception of the MnCIFA, through community involvement and activation, The Heights was approved for $4.7 million dollar loan for the geothermal district energy system.