Conclusion

The hypothesis tested is that the RENew/NSD/Carleton wind project is a focal point in building community identity, civic activism, and a shared vision of the community's future. "Focal point" is defined in terms of three main characteristics: 1) an opportunity for concrete, positive action. 2) ability to generate pride in its creation and success. 3) allows the incorporation of diverse skills and interests present in the community. The current wind project has been shown to have all of these characteristics.
The second part of the hypothesis is that if the wind project is a focal point as defined above, then it will strengthen community identity, civic activism, and a shared vision of the community's future. Community identity engages in dynamic interplay with civic activism. Both may be present in the community at once, and each may influence and draw strength from the other. The dialogue between these two elements creates a shared vision of the community's future. Physical, economic and narrative data suggest that the wind project is and will continue to operate as a focal point through which these elements of community are developed.
Two of the three purposes of this research have been fulfilled: to organize observations of community environmental activism into a testable hypothesis, and to make the findings accessible to the community. Whether or not the research has used scholarship to benefit the community must be decided by the readers. As such, I conclude with my email address and a link to the RENew Northfield web site. I provide my address as an invitation for comments, questions and corrections. I provide a link to the RENew site to encourage readers to learn more about the organization and to benefit from its resources. The site includes a list of links to renewable energy information and a way to subscribe to RENew's electronic mailing list.

my email: stillion@stolaf.edu (through summer 2003)
RENew Northfield

"EarthDay sunrise on the Buffalo Ridge." source: ME3 - link

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