Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) member, ALP Utilities in Alexandria, Minnesota, is helping the Alexandria community save energy and reduce expenses. Recent projects with the NorthStar Sports Complex, the school district and its own operations center demonstrate how the utility is helping businesses make a tangible impact with energy-efficient upgrades and rebates.
NorthStar Arena Personnel Looked Up To Find Energy Savings
The NorthStar Sports Complex in Alexandria, home to NorthStar Christian Academy’s hockey and athletic programs, has taken a major step toward improving both performance and efficiency. In the fall of 2025, the arena earned a $9,054 rebate from ALP Utilities, after completing a significant energy-saving upgrade to its ice arena ceiling. The rebate is just the beginning of energy savings. The improvement is expected to reduce electricity use by more than 168,000 kilowatt-hours annually.
NorthStar installed 24,200 square feet of low-emissivity reflective ceiling insulation, a specialized technology designed to reduce radiant heat transfer from the roof structure down to the ice surface. The arena selected Astro-Rink, a product from Energie Innovations Inc., featuring dual layers of bubble film and reinforced metallized aluminum capable of reflecting up to 95% of radiant heat.
For ice arenas, one of the most energy-intensive types of commercial buildings, reducing heat load on the ice sheet is critical. With less radiant heat warming the rink, the refrigeration system no longer needs to work as hard to maintain ice temperature. The result is better ice quality, improved athlete and spectator experience and substantial energy savings for the facility.
The project is expected to deliver an average 25.9-kilowatt demand reduction during peak summer hours, when refrigeration loads are highest. Over the course of a year, the energy savings will help lower operating costs while extending the life of the arena’s mechanical systems.
“Ice rinks are very energy-intensive facilities, and our new ceiling will greatly reduce energy consumption while improving ice quality,” said Eric Mages, sports complex director at NorthStar Christian Academy. “We’re thrilled to have a utility company that shares our values and vision.”
The NorthStar Sports Complex opened in 2018 as part of NorthStar Christian Academy’s 40-acre campus. The facility includes a full-size hockey rink, fieldhouse, training center, weight room and student gathering spaces.
The project was completed with support from the Bright Energy Solutions® (BES) program, a partnership that allows member utilities like ALP Utilities to offer incentives for
cost-effective commercial energy efficiency projects.
“ALP truly excels at proactive customer service,” said Joe Peters, MRES energy services field representative. “While they may be too humble to highlight it themselves, anyone who works with them can see the impact of their hands-on approach.”
As the NorthStar Sports Complex continues to serve student-athletes and the broader community, this upgrade showcases how modern efficiency technologies paired with impactful utility incentives can help facilities operate more sustainably without compromising performance.
ALP Utilities Helps Alexandria School District Bank More Than $10,000
ALP Utilities has helped the Alexandria School District save money and improve energy efficiency. The utility presented the school district with a $10,575 rebate check, thanks to their efforts in upgrading the lighting at their high school gym. This rebate comes through the BES program.
The district replaced 144 old gym light fixtures with new, energy-efficient LED lights. This change not only brightens up the space but also reduces peak energy demand by 19 kilowatts and is expected to save around 61,529 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. That’s a big deal for the district’s budget and the community!
“Through a community-driven process we are pleased to incorporate energy efficient building systems and maximize energy savings to carefully manage operating costs,” Superintendent Rick Sansted said.
The BES program is available to commercial customers at no cost and includes energy assessments to help organizations better understand their usage, rates and areas where they can save. These assessments often lead to lower energy bills and more efficient operations for years to come.
ALP Utilities Leads By Example
ALP Utilities doesn’t just encourage its customers to be more energy efficient, the utility leads by example. In October 2025, ALP Utilities celebrated the grand opening of its new operations center in Alexandria, a state-of-the-art facility designed with energy efficiency at the forefront. The building includes high-performance lighting, an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and variable frequency drives, all of which exceed current energy code standards. By focusing on these technologies from the start, the utility was able to reduce operational costs while boosting the long-term sustainability of the facility. The project also benefited from the BES rebate program, which helped offset initial costs and ensure that energy efficiency remained a primary goal of the building.
“Our new operations center is not just a building, it’s a strategic step toward reducing long-term operational costs and improving our service reliability,” said Ted Cash, general manager of ALP Utilities. “By focusing on energy efficiency, we’ve created a space that supports both our current operations and our ability to serve the Alexandria community for many years to come.”
The new facility consolidates four aging storage buildings into one modern campus designed to improve service reliability, operational efficiency and emergency response times. One standout feature is the center’s ability to operate independently from the electricity grid during major outages, ensuring uninterrupted service when it’s needed most.
BES also provides no-cost energy walk-throughs, helping member businesses better understand their electric use and identify opportunities for long-term savings. To learn more about how your business or organization can benefit from BES, visit brightenergysolutions.com.