Posted: 1/9/07
City trademarks its Energy City name and its logo
About Energy City Elk River has been known as "Energy City" since 1997, when the Minnesota Environmental Initiative chose it as a focal point for the demonstration of efficient and renewable energy products, services and technologies. Energy City does not develop its own projects or demonstrations, but rather works with entities interested in completing an energy-efficient and economically feasible project in the Elk River area. Examples of completed projects include: Energy Houses I, II and III; landfill gas-to-electric facility; energy-efficient traffic lights; refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant; commercial use of geothermal heat pumps, recovery ventilators and energy-efficient lighting; wind generator; sustainable building design; and photovoltaic demonstration. Energy City is governed by the city of Elk River's Energy City Commission. Source: City of Elk River |
by Joni Astrup
Associate editor
Elk River has been known as "Energy City" for the last 10 years, and now the name has been officially trademarked.
The city has successfully trademarked the words "Energy City," "Elk River Energy City" and the Energy City logo through the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.
"We trademarked the names so that we would have sole ownership to them throughout the state," said Nicki Blake-Bradley, environmental technician with the city of Elk River who did the research for the trademarking.
Vance Zehringer, chairman of the Energy City Commission, said Elk River has been known as Energy City since 1997. He and other city officials wanted to make sure the city's use of the Energy City name and logo were protected and able to continue to be used by the city.
The concern was someone else would get the idea, call themselves Energy City and prohibit the city of Elk River from using the Energy City designation and logo for its purposes.
With the trademarking, "As far as the state is concerned, we've got it tied up," Zehringer said.
Blake-Bradley said it took about three months from the time she started the research until the secretary of state's office approved the trademarks.
"It was rather interesting to go through the process," she said.
The city may look into getting a federal trademark as well.
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