BEMIDJI, Minnesota, Feb. 17 -- Bemidji State University issued the following news: Bemidji State University has recently received an energy efficiency rebate of more than $137,200 from Otter Tail Power Company as part of the company's Conservation Improvement Program. An additional $9,700 rebate was also granted for Bemidji State's participation in Otter Tail's geothermal study. Travis Barnes, director of facilities, said a key component in reducing energy usage is to lay the ground-work for future projects. "If we want to put solar panels onto a building, it doesn't make sense to do that if the building has inefficient lighting and outdated electrical control systems," he said. "These projects are creating the infrastructure that will make larger projects feasible in the future."