Hays Wins MoKan Challenge, $10,000 for Community

The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge engaged Hays, Hutchinson, Kansas City Kan., and Warrensburg Mo. in an exciting competition designed to impact energy efficiency with participants through education, engagement and results.

Hays won first place with an average score of 2,770 points. Kansas City, Kansas, came in a close second place with 2,297 points followed by Warrensburg, Mo., with 1,794 and Hutchinson with 822.

The challenge ran from August 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014. The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge was a commercial challenge; almost 50 articipants including businesses, churches, and schools. Hays participants included Northwestern Printers, Master Cleaners, Cross Manufacturing Inc, KSU Ag Research Center, Ellis County Coalition, Holy Family Elementary, Thomas More Prep - Admin Building, Thomas More Prep - Nations Hall Dormitory, Thomas More Prep - Marian Hall Girls Dormitory, Hadley Center, Nex-Tech 1, Nex-Tech 2, Midwest Energy, City of Hays Water Softening Plant, Ellis County, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Communications 1, and Eagle Communications 2. 

Leadership teams and participants held over 220 events throughout the challenge, which were used to share educational information with nearly 12,000 people. 

Challenge leadership teams in each community have gained key supporters by partnering with utility companies, including Midwest Energy, Westar Energy, Kansas City BPU, and KCP&L.

The competition builds on the success of the Kansas Take Charge Challenge, which was created by the Climate + Energy Project in 2009. The Kansas Take Charge Challenge was a residential challenge. Nationwide recognition for the innovative and successful challenge included the New York Times, Lawrence Berkley Labs, and PBS. The MOKAN Challenge was the first Challenge for commercial utility customers and expanded to include Missouri.

A celebration event to recognize the participants will be held in each of the four cities during February.

The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge used the spirit of competition to drive participation and success. Each participating organization had the opportunity to win a local prize, $5,000 in kind prize from their Electric Utility. In Hays, Northwestern Printers captured the $5,000 prize from Midwest Energy.

At the same time, the organizations within each community competed against those in the other community for a grand prize of $10,000. The grand prize, provided by Climate + Energy Project, will be used for a community energy efficiency project selected by the Hays Leadership Team.