Rybak gets local Prius upgrade

Mayor R.T. Rybak proudly announced at a news conference Thursday that the city had just paid $5,000 to a new Minneapolis company to convert his city-owned Toyota Prius hybrid to an electric plug-in model that will get up to 85 miles per gallon.

He and other Democratic Party politicians and their representatives gathered in the company parking lot to hail the new ultra-green firm, ReGo Electric Conversions, which has been in operation for six weeks and whose owner is a prominent contributor to DFL politicians.

"We want to create jobs," Rybak told a crowd at the company's facility at 3920 Nicollet Av. Rybak, wearing a ReGo button and a T-shirt, said he "couldn't be more pleased" that the company had located in Minneapolis, "right in my neighborhood."

"How soon will you start doing Fords so I can have mine done?" asked Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, who attended the event.

Shayna Berkowitz, co-owner of the company, grinned and said she hopes to be able to convert hybrids other than the Prius in "the very near future."

The company says it installs a lithium ion battery pack that boosts the Prius' ability to take the load off its gas engine for extended periods of time. It says the average commuter who drives 20 to 40 miles per day will get 60 to 85 miles per gallon. The conversion also increases the car's electric-only range by ten times, up to 20 miles per charge, the company says.

Berkowitz said she was proud to be partnering with environmental and neighborhood groups and to share with Mulroy's Auto Body a facility energized by solar panels.

'No special favors'

Her role as donor was not mentioned at the news conference, and the politicians, including Rybak, whose campaigns benefitted, later said that neither Berkowitz nor her business received any special favors because of it.

Rybak, who received a total of $600 from Berkowitz in 2005 and 2009, said he was not trying to hide the donations and had been "laser focused" on getting green jobs to the city. He said that he approached ReGo after he was unsuccessful in luring a Canadian company to Minneapolis to retrofit alternative fuel vehicles.

"This company is doing it in Minneapolis because I was able to convince them to do it," Rybak said.

State Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, who was introduced at the news conference but did not speak, said Berkowitz was her friend long before she was elected to office. Berkowitz "has been a strong supporter for this kind of environmental work for a long time in addition to supporting candidates," said Clark, who received $250 from her in 2006.

"There are a lot of individuals who donate to me," said Glidden, who received $600 from Berkowitz from 2005 to 2009. "I am happy for their support ... but that's separate from how I do my job." She said she supports businesses that bring jobs to the community and supports green businesses.

Ritchie, who received $250 from Berkowitz this year, said he didn't grasp why it was relevant. He said he's driven hybrids for 10 years. "I am thrilled there is a hybrid conversion company in Minnesota instead of going to Canada, and I am happy there is a hybrid conversion company in my neighborhood," he said.

Brian Elliott, district director for U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, was introduced at the news conference but did not speak. He said an ethics rule prohibits members of Congress from supporting a commercial venture. Ellison received $6,700 from Berkowitz since 2007, according to records.

"It just happened that the mayor of Minneapolis is a Democrat, and it just happens that he converted his hybrid plug-in," said Berkowitz. "I don't care if you are a Democrat, Republican or independent -- we will work with anybody. ... If you care about reducing our carbon emissions and making this a sustainable city and sustainable state, I would be happy to work with you."

John Stiles, a spokesman for Rybak, said he previously drove a 2005 hybrid. The new conversion was done on his second hybrid, a 2007 Prius.

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382