The Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) in Pine River, MN (pop. 861), applies solar technology to help alleviate a significant effect of poverty on people living in cold climates – the cost of heat.  RREAL was founded in 2000 by Jason Edens, a high school teacher with a keen interest in solar technologies and a vision for a better way to help struggling families through the winter.

In 2006, by serving as a host site within the Initiative Foundation's multi-site VISTA project, RREAL brought on their first of six VISTA members, an engineer who assisted their staff in designing and testing several prototypes of their own “solar-powered furnace” (SPF).  The SPF is a solar collector which uses the heat of the winter sun to warm air that is blown into homes where it can reduce heating costs by 20–25%; about the same amount of support received by the typical recipient of federal fuel assistance.  Other VISTAs have helped RREAL test and refine its SPF and have it tested by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation) where it was rated as the most efficient solar air heating collector manufactured in this country. Additionally, VISTAs have helped: increase the efficiency and safety of RREAL’s solar collector manufacturing process, develop outreach materials, write grants, develop a donor program, initiate a dealer network process for their SPF, and improve RREAL’s website. 

RREAL attributes much of its success to its VISTA members who have helped build its capacity to develop and sustain work that provides: an environmental benefit by using green technology, a human benefit by reducing heating costs for individuals and families facing the cold MN winters, and a public benefit by providing families with a sustainable source of heating assistance, thus, offsetting their need for federal fuel assistance.

Since 2000, RREAL has installed 112 solar air heating systems assisting over 350 low income individuals.  They recently replaced, at no charge to the northern MN homeowner, one of the first solar air heating systems they installed (prior to the development of their own SPF).  At the time, that system was the best one available and it provided nearly a decade of heat for this low income family.  Since their new SPF has a life expectancy of at least 25 years this family and any future residents will realize the benefits of solar air heat for many years to come.

RREAL recently received a DOE - Sustainable Energy Resources for Communities (SERC) grant enabling them to partner with and train staff of nine Minnesota Community Action agencies that will install 280 solar air heating systems for their service recipients over the next year. 

RREAL is a testament to what committed and innovative people can accomplish for the greater good of society and a powerful example of the impact of AmeriCorps VISTA capacity-building service.  The service performed by each of their VISTAs has strengthened RREAL in demonstrable ways and enabled it to grow, serve more people and become better positioned for sustainability.