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Governor Pawlenty congratulates Rothsay on being selected for Community Energy Challenge

Rothsay, Minnesota - April 9, 2009

Today the community of Rothsay will gather in its school gymnasium at 5:30 P.M. to celebrate being selected for Otter Tail Power Company’s Community Energy Challenge. At 6 P.M. Governor Tim Pawlenty will speak about the State’s commitment to energy efficiency and conservation and express his appreciation for Rothsay’s dedication to serving as a model community. According to Governor Pawlenty, “The best time to have taken action on energy issues would’ve been decades ago. The second best time is right now.”

Imagine all of the residents of a small rural community working together to reduce the energy use of their entire town—every business and every home. Then imagine all of the students in the community playing a leadership role to accomplish that goal. That’s the Community Energy Challenge. It’s Otter Tail Power Company’s unique way to encourage greater understanding that the choices people make about their energy lifestyles have a global impact.

“The City of Rothsay is very excited and honored to be chosen for the Community Energy Challenge,” said Travis Shirley, Mayor of Rothsay. “As city leaders, we will do our best to maximize the positive impact this challenge will have on our community. We’re so grateful to Otter Tail Power Company for giving us this tremendous opportunity.”

Otter Tail Power Company is celebrating 100 years of service today, April 9

The foundation of the company’s commemoration of its 100th anniversary is the concept of paying it forward. “To pay it forward means that when you receive a thoughtful gift or gesture you return the kindness by giving to others,” said Cris Kling, Otter Tail Power Company’s director of public relations.

As part of its year-long 100th anniversary celebration, the company is coordinating a pay-it-forward project in each of the three states it serves (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota). According to Kling, each project includes elements of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic impact to reinforce the company’s commitment to being ON for generations. Its Minnesota pay-it-forward project is the Community Energy Challenge in Rothsay.

Today marks the official launch of this groundbreaking challenge focused on energy conservation; a challenge that is two years in the making and one that will be monitored for the next five years. It includes energy audits, rebates, grants, and other energy-efficiency incentives for the residents and businesses of Rothsay. One homeowner will receive a free energy makeover valued at $12,000. The company’s goal is to save between 10 percent and 15 percent of the community’s energy use. “To our knowledge, this is the only energy-efficiency project of this magnitude in the nation,” said Kling.

“The Community Energy Challenge is one way we’re helping to pay it forward to the Rothsay area, the state of Minnesota, and future generations,” said Chuck MacFarlane, Otter Tail Power Company president. “I want to thank the residents of Rothsay for their enthusiasm as we begin this project and for helping to commemorate Otter Tail Power Company’s 100 years of service.”

The company marked its 100-year milestone with a pay-it-forward event in South Dakota in March and plans to host another pay-it-forward event in North Dakota this summer. In addition to these events, Otter Tail Power Company will host open house celebrations at each of its customer service centers and is offering Ollie the Otter appearances, holding employee celebrations, and conducting book signings of its Ollie’s Otter Tail River Adventure children’s book. Dates, times, and locations of these and other events will be posted on the company’s anniversary web site www.otpco100.com.

Otter Tail Power Company, a division of Otter Tail Corporation, is headquartered in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It provides electricity and energy services to nearly a quarter million people in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. To learn more visit Otter Tail Power Company’s web site at www.otpco.com.

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