Shakopee, Minnesota - Over a week in mid-November 2008, Koda Energy will undergo testing before beginning operations. During this time a sound described variously as a roar or whooshing sound, similar to four locomotive trains going by simultaneously, will be audible to residents living within a one-mile radius of the facility in Shakopee, Minnesota. Expected to occur about 25 times over the week only during daylight hours, the testing and its accompanying sound will last about 20 minutes each. The testing is scheduled to begin November 17, 2008, and continue through November 21, 2008.

Koda Energy, a partnership of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Rahr Malting, is a combined heat and power plant, which will generate electricity and heat utilizing agricultural byproducts and grown energy crops. The project gets its name from the word “koda” which means "friend" in the Dakota Language.

During the testing, steam which will be visible up close will fall to the earth as a gentle mist. No vibration will accompany the sound.

“This sound is something that nearby residents need to be aware of but not concerned about,” explained Koda Energy General Manager Joe Johansen. “Since it will be out of the ordinary and might cause folks to stop and wonder, we thought it was a good idea to let people know what it is.”

“We’ll be notifying residents two to three weeks before the steam blow and then again the week before. We’ve also spoken with city officials and the police and fire departments,” he continued.

The steam blow is a necessary part of the construction and testing process for the $60 million facility which contains a massive turbine. During boiler construction, miles of various sizes and shapes of stainless steel and black iron pipes are welded together. These pipes arrived from all over the country and were assembled and welded by skilled steamfitters or pipe fitters. During transport and storage oil, dust, insects, and other debris may have made their way inside the pipes. The steam blow will remove any contamination by releasing steam through the pipes and then out a diverter pipe at the last minute before reaching the turbine blades.

“Our job ultimately is to make steam which then turns a blade connected to a shaft which in turn generates electricity. The steam has to be sterile (free of all debris) or it will damage the blade,” he said.

Steam is released for 30-40 seconds at a time until a metal test strip hanging in front of the diverter pipe is unaffected. The test strip is examined after each steam blow and replaced until it shows up clean from pit marks caused by debris.

Construction on Koda Energy began shortly after the September 13, 2007, groundbreaking. This biomass energy generation project is environmentally friendly and considerably cleaner than a coal plant. Electricity produced by Koda will be used to run Koda Energy. Excess will be sold first to Rahr Malting and will provide 100% of the energy and heat needed by Rahr in its work as one of the world’s largest producers of malt and brewing supplies. The remaining electricity will be sold to Xcel Energy who will sell it on the open market with the profits returned to the partnership. Koda will be fully operational by December 31, 2008. Koda is the first biomass facility in the state that will burn only natural, non-manmade materials. All products burned in the facility are expected to come from within a 50-mile radius. General Mills will provide oat hulls from cereals as a fuel source.

The facility is located on the Rahr Malting campus on Highway 101, approximately seven miles from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Rahr Malting formed Koda Energy, a Limited Liability Company, December 19, 2005, to build and operate the facility. Koda Energy is one of several SMSC energy initiatives underway. For more information about SMSC environmental initiatives, go to www.shakopeedakota.org.

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