City of Halstad Receives Grants for EV Charging Station & Wimmer Home Insulation Improvements

Halstad, MN — The City of Halstad and Halstad Municipal Utilities recently announced that they would be recipients of two $5,000 Clean Energy Resource Team (CERTs)Grants. The CERTs seed grants provide resources to communities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across Minnesota. The City of Halstad will use the grants to purchase an Electric Vehicle Charging Station and to provide better insulation in their Wimmer Home rental properties.

The Level II Electric Vehicle Charging Station is slated to be installed in downtown Halstad near the World’s Largest Sugar Beet and Valley General Store. Lucas Spaeth of Halstad Utilities hopes that it will be a draw for tourism and alleviate range anxiety for EV customers.

Spaeth noted that the Level II charging stations usually cost between $1000 and $10,000, but due to the current backlog they may not be able to install it until next winter.

As for the Wimmer Home insulation improvements, Spaeth says they plan to update the attic insulation in 14 of their rental units, which will help save on electric heating costs for tenants.

The Wimmer Homes were originally built in the 1960s for low-income elderly people to preserve independence in small home, but have since been opened up to all renters.