Recently YES! Coordinator Jim DeVries did a profile of Silicon Energy: In 2007 Silicon Energy opened its doors in the state of Washington as the first certified photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer. In August 2011, Silicon Energy opened a second multimillion-dollar manufacturing plant in the Northeastern Minnesota community of Mt. Iron. This area was chosen for its strong work ethic, available
Businesses
Business Highlight: Full Circle Organics
40% of organic compostable materials are currently being sent to landfills. Full Circle Organics, LLC strives to reduce this amount through successfully managing a multi-location cooperative of compost facilities. This includes continuing to expand partnerships, one of which has recently involved the Mankato West YES! team. Focused on providing organics recycling outside of the metro area,
Energy Business Highlight: East Side Oil Company
YES! teams are partnering with East Side Oil Company! Currently three teams; Royalton, Westbrook-Walnut Grove, and Lac qui Parle Valley have oil recycling sites that are generating donations to support their team. We are just starting to discover the potential of this partnership and hope that many more teams can participate in the future. With YES! teams keen on decreasing the harmful effects
Business Highlight: Larry Henderson of Backup Power Source
Everyone has experienced it: you are eating dinner or watching a great movie when all of a sudden the lights go out. We often take for granted the ease of life with electricity at our fingertips. Larry Henderson, CEO of Backup Power Source, has created a business based on helping people avoid the irritation and possible catastrophes of going without power. Larry, along with his wife Sharon and
Business Highlight: Bob Ryan’s Business Ventures
By YES! Coordinator Jon Morales: Bob Ryan-at the time the owner of a fireplace, stone and cabinetry store in Hutchinson, MN-sold a friend a pellet-burning stove. They soon decided it would be wise to use local resources as a fuel source for the stove. This resulted in a business plan for Sunrise Agra Fuels, a company that manufactures pellets out of soybeans, straw and sunflower
Business Highlight: John Duevel from Three Seasons and More
By YES! Coordinator Jon Morales: If there was ever anyone that gave the saying "fly by the seat of your pants" a good name, it would be John Duevel. John's company, Three Seasons and More in Willmar, MN thrives on the challenges of designing, engineering, and implementing sustainable technologies in ways that bypass roadblocks and focus on the mission at hand. John maintains the perspective that
