First note that CREED is an acronym for "Coon Rapids Regional Energy/Environment Demonstration."; Coon Rapids, because that is the area
where most of our people come from; Regional, because our interest extends well beyond the city of Coon Rapids; Energy, because this is the resource
which drives our technological society; Environment, because our major
concerns are related to how our society's use of energy is impacting it;
and Demonstration, because touch, see and participate are the most powerful
educational tools available to us.
It has been proposed that we change our name to "Communities for Responsible Energy/Environment Demonstration" to better reflect our core mission and to put to rest the assumption on the part of some people that we are a parochial organization. Our concerns and mission are Minnesota State wide and, since environmental and increasingly economic concerns have no boundaries, global.
Education is the major focus of CREED. CREED was conceived and
established to provide a service that is not available from any other
source. CREED is addressing the major issues of energy, environment and
economic development (3E), and how they interact. We are involved with the
development of technical tools and hands-on help for the 3E education of
our citizens, (K-adult), in Minnesota. These tools and helps relate to the
way in which we extract, convert and use energy and the consequent effects
these operations have on the physical environment (air, water and soil) in
which we live, and their impact on the economic development and health of
our State.
As educators we are acutely aware that the best and most effective learning process is a "hands-on" participatory one. The CREED Project therefore has two main long-term goals.
First, the establishment of an education center for the display and
demonstration of working renewable energy, energy efficient and energy
conserving technology models and systems, showing how these have very
beneficial effects on the physical environment and the State's economic
health.
Second, the writing and preparation of curricula, courses and
teacher training/resource materials on these issues for use in colleges,
schools, businesses and interested communities, and the offering of
Continuing Education Graduate Credit Courses for teachers.
The nature of the CREED Project is such that a suitable site for the erection of working demonstrations, in addition to buildings for classrooms, conferences, work-shops, a library and archive, and administration, will be needed. Such a site could presumably be found almost anywhere in Minnesota. However there are certain advantages in finding a site near the center of gravity of the State's population, and a place already in use by the general public for recreation. Such a site which would satisfy both these criteria, as well as having had an historical connection to renewable energy, is the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (CRDRP). It is envisaged that after the establishment of the central site, traveling displays would be prepared for educational presentations, and workshops throughout the State.
Specifically these demonstrations and displays will emphasize
Minnesota's own indigenous resources; her renewable energy potential and
the expertise of her people. Besides our rich resources in wind, biomass
and solar, our people have by necessity (harsh climate) and ingenuity led
the nation in energy conservation techniques and energy device efficiency
improvements. To educate the general public with respect to the latter is
also a part of our mission.