Do you and your community need funding to get an energy efficiency or renewable energy project off the ground? The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) can help!
On August 24, 2015 the Statewide CERTs Partnership, including the Great Plains Institute, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking applications for limited financial assistance for community-based energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. This funding is for LABOR COSTS ONLY for all seven CERTs regions, which cover the entire State of Minnesota. The primary objective of these funds is to spur action on local clean energy projects.
This will be the 4th round of Seed Grants in the 11-county Metro CERT region. We have funded 23 projects for a total of $80,000 since 2010. These projects were chosen from hundreds of competitive proposals over that time frame, and the projects get better every year. Here are links to project summaries from the 2010 round, 2012 round, 2012-2013 round, and 2014 round.
In addition to the Statewide CERTs criteria listed in the RFP, the Metro CERT Steering Committee will give preference in the current RFP to projects that:
- Demonstrate an innovative approach to utilizing existing energy programs, technologies, organizations, and resources (for example, taking advantage of available utility rebates or utility-funded assistance programs)
- Maximize cost-effectiveness by demonstrating efforts to achieve energy efficiency before deploying renewable energy
- Engage communities or audiences that are under-served by energy programs, organizations, and resources
Proposals are due at 4pm on October 26th. The Metro CERT Seed Grant Review Committee will review eligible proposals and recommend a slate of projects that will go to the Metro CERT Steering Committee for approval in early December.
CERTs offers many tools and resources to help you plan your project, so get started today! Head to https://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/rfp to learn more and apply.
We’re looking forward to seeing proposals from each of the 11 counties in the Metro region.
For guidance on the application process, or to inquire about eligibility of your project idea, please contact Diana McKeown, Metro CERT Director, at 612-278-7158 or dmckeown@gpisd.net.
