So, you probably have been wondering who was behind the blog posts this whole time! We have been lucky enough at 401(e) to have Adam Mehr working with us for a few months, writing the blog posts among other things. Adam was working with us as a Conservation Corps fellow, and he has been sharing his time for that position between two agencies, with us and with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) in Pine River, Minnesota, where he has been working on their Solar Assistance Program and outreach.
“I learned quite a bit during my time with 401(e) Home Energy Service and Red River Valley Community Action. I don’t think I realized how genuinely interested I was in energy efficiency; there’s a lot of innovative, surprising work going on right now in the energy world. Thanks to my work with 401(e), RRVCA, RREAL, and Conservation Corps, I have had the opportunity to really dive into energy efficiency and renewables and gain a better understanding of their many applications and benefits. I am glad I have been able to contribute.” ~Adam
RREAL is a nonprofit with a mission of making solar accessible to communities of all income levels, and have installed hundreds of solar air heating systems in partnership with low-income weatherization providers, including Red River Valley Community Action.
What about the Conservation Corps? According to their website, the Conservation Corps program “provides meaningful work for young people in managing natural resources, responding to disasters, conserving energy and leading volunteers.” They provide training and help young people (age 18 to 25) develop and gain green job skills in energy conservation or natural resource management. Applicants commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies.
We are now happy to welcome Ryan Meyer, for the new Conservation Corps position. He just started his work at RREAL and 401(e) a few weeks ago and will be taking over the blog. Ryan recently graduated from St. John’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies.
“I am excited to be part of the 401(e) and Red River Valley Community Action team. I am ready to start contributing to the organization and provide a positive impact to their work and the energy efficiency world. I am eager to learn more about energy efficiency and to share information and my experiences with energy efficiency through the blog.” ~Ryan
One of his missions at RREAL and our agency will be to provide more awareness of solar air heating for low-moderate income homeowners, as well as developing and expanding the market for solar in North Dakota.
So, thank you for all the good work, Adam, and welcome Ryan!!
