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Mahtomedi High School Student Project Wins President’s Environmental Youth Award

Release Date: 06/05/2013
Contact Information: EPA -- Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov Mahtomedi High School District --Carrie Ardito, 651-426-5600, carrie.ardito@mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

Chicago -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today presented the regional 2012 President’s Environmental Youth Award to members of an environmental club at Mahtomedi High School in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, for its Zephyr Wind Project.

Members of the school’s Eco Club raised $100,000 to build a 10-kilowatt wind turbine next to the school’s football field to power the stadium lights, scoreboard and concession stand. The school sells excess power to Xcel Energy. Since the turbine was installed in September 2011, it has prevented 10 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of planting 261 trees.

“This award recognizes the hard work and creativity of the Mahtomedi High School students who developed this renewable energy project,” said EPA Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. “The wind turbine will save energy, improve the environment and generate revenue for the school.”

The President's Environmental Youth Awards program is an annual contest sponsored by EPA to honor creative environmental projects developed and implemented by K-12 students. The winning project was chosen from entries submitted by students in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Visit http://www.epa.gov/peya for more about the President's Environmental Youth Awards.