To-Cross-The-Moon (2XtM) Snowkiting Expedition

The 2008 To-Cross-The-Moon (2XtM) snowkiting expedition has officially taken off. The expedition sponsored by LM Glassfiber, Northern Great Plains Inc., YogaSlackers, and Mortenson Construction, addresses and promotes the potential of renewable wind energy in the state of North Dakota by raising awareness through snowkiting. Two local athletes are participating in the 390 mile-long journey from the Canadian border to South Dakota, which commenced on February 11th and will conclude February 29th-March 3rd.

Snowkiting is an extreme winter sport with increasing popularity, and one which works extraordinarily well in the flat, treeless landscape of the state of North Dakota. The athletes--Sam Salwei and Jason Magness, both from Grand Forks, N.D., along with Paul Cassedy from San Diego, CA--are also hoping to bring positive national attention to North Dakota in terms of its opportunities for recreation, but most importantly, to the state’s endless and unrelenting Great Plains wind.

“The trek across North Dakota that Jason and Sam have put together is an example of the exciting recreational opportunities our state offers,” said U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan. “But even more importantly, it’s bringing attention to an important issue--the development of our wind energy resource.”

North Dakota has often been often referred to by those who study wind energy as the “Saudi Arabia of Wind,” and has been named by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, as the greatest wind resource of any of the lower 48 states. According to U.S. Department of Energy estimates, the state of North Dakota is capable of producing enough wind-generated power to meet more than one-fourth of the U.S. electricity demand. “The U.S. is blessed with a vast wind resource that is just waiting to be tapped,” said Randall Swisher, Executive Director of the American Wind Energy Association. “North Dakota could rapidly become a hub of wind power generation, powering a cleaner, stronger America.”

Despite North Dakota’s incredible wind resource, the state fell from 13th place in 2004 for wind energy production to 15th place just last year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, North Dakota currently has 344 megawatts of wind power online, about three-tenths of one percent of its potential.

The 2XtM expedition will be completely self-supporting, with Salwei, Cassedy, and Magness carrying all the equipment and supplies necessary for surviving the frigid winter temperatures of North Dakota winter months. Each athlete will carry approximately 53 lbs. of equipment in backpacks, and will camp out in temperatures that likely will drop below zero, with wind chills capable of reaching 100 below zero. The athletes have been selective in accepting the expedition’s specialized equipment from only eco-conscious companies, even down to their meals, which have been donated by Amazing Grains in Grand Forks.
“It will be an extreme challenge,” said Salwei, “but our goal is to make North Dakota the ‘state of extremes’ by demonstrating the state’s wind energy potential in a tangible way.”

The three athletes will be accompanied by videographers and photographers, as well as by an educational outreach crew led by the group’s educational coordinator, Jason Schaefer. Schaefer and other educators will follow the route of the athletes by vehicle, holding snowkiting demonstrations and clinics, as well as educational seminars along the way. The group will also be visiting schools statewide to give educational presentations using the buzz generated by the expedition to promote wind energy as a valuable resource.

“We want to help exemplify the vast amount of wind that North Dakota has in a tangible way,” said Salwei. “North Dakota can be a leader in the renewable and clean energy source of wind power.”

In addition to his efforts with the 2XtM expedition, Schaefer is also an actively involved member of the Greater Grand Forks Environmental Resource Committee. The Committee, which has been broken into nine separate sub-committees, focuses primarily on three criteria regarding the environment.

“The Greater Grand Forks Environmental Resource Committee is currently working on putting together an action plan, Green³, that we will propose to the city council as a means of making and adapting the Grand Forks community into one that is the most environmentally friendly. We plan to do this by open-mindedly evaluating environmental issues based on criteria involving increased efficiency, cutting cost/saving money, and cleaning the environment,” said the groups program coordinator, L. Mathias Bonzer.

Of the several sub-committees, including Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Economic Development, Transportation, Land, Education and Outreach, Municipal Buildings and Facilities, Recycling and Urban Forestry, Alternative and Renewable Energies, and Local, State, and Federal Policy, Schaefer is the chairman of the committee examining economic development, and also participates on the committee addressing local, state, and federal policy.

“The efforts of the 2XtM Expedition are great,” said Bonzer. “I think there is a common misconception that only people that take a particular interest in the environment should or can be involved in a project such as 2XtM or a committee project such as Green³; but all people should be concerned about the environment--our committee project encompasses all people, from the far left who may take an interest because of the actual environmental reason, to the far right who may choose to be involved for economic reasons.”

Regarding renewable wind energy, specifically, there are no harmful emissions or climate-changing byproducts. People that favor “green” power recognize the environmental benefits of wind-generated electricity.

Along with environmental advantages, the development and installation of large-scale wind installations across the state would boost the economy and create many more jobs state-wide. LM Glassfiber, a sponsor of the 2XtM Expedition, is the leading global manufacturer of wind turbine blades, and the largest independent manufacturer in Grand Forks. LM Glassfiber’s plant in Grand Forks opened in 1998 and employed 50 people, while today their employee count has grown to nearly 1,000.

“We applaud the ingenuity of the To-Cross-the-Moon Expedition, especially considering its underpinnings in education and renewable energy,” says National Account Manager, Warren Ault of LM Glassfiber. “By partnering with 2XtM, LM Glassfiber aims to bring awareness of renewable energy and to ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to learn about energy generation and the important contribution of wind power.”

“Landowners benefit through the leasing of wind rights and schools benefit from the increased tax revenues,” said Schaefer. “It is a win-win all around and we need to show that to the world.”

Additional Information

The expedition commenced on February 11, 2008, and the website provides gps tracking of the athlete’s progress across the state, as well as educational resources and photographs. www.2XtM.com.
The Greater Grand Forks Environmental Resource Committee holds its meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 6 o’clock in the City Hall Chambers. Additional information about the committee is available at grandforksgov.com.

2XtM Events in Fargo

Friday, Feb 29th:
Time TBA- Environmental Group Presentation at NDSU Student Union,TBA Concert

Saturday, March 1st:
8am-12pm- Fargo Theatre Open House
2pm-4pm- Open House at the Hotel Donaldson Restaurant