Pictured are Head Deacon of First Baptist Church Bill Wingert, Wells Public Utilities Energy Services Representative Brian Hammarsten, and Preston Public Utilities General Manager Jim Bakken with a utility rebate check. First Baptist Church upgraded their furnace fan motor which qualified them for a $50 rebate from Preston Public Utilities. The energy savings from this project, and their prior energy efficiency upgrade, is equivalent to the planting of 3 acres of forest or removing 1 passenger vehicle annually.

Jim Bakken, Preston Public Utilities General Manager, Brian Hammarsten, Energy Services Representative for Preston Public Utilities, presented Aric Bauman, Director of Maintenance at Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs, with a rebate check for more than $7,800. The new construction project leveraged LED lighting, occupancy sensors, along with several other energy efficient technologies. This project reduced 66 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent to planting 78 acres of forest.