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A co-owner of Safari Restaurant, Sade Hashi, was confident in his decision to take advantage of the energy efficiency assistance provided by the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

El Nuevo Rodeo, a vibrant restaurant and events center, is nearly always busy serving authentic Mexican cuisine and hosting small and large events.

Miguel Zagal, owner of Taqueria La Hacienda, took advantage of the opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of his restaurant through the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

Starr Automotive, an auto repair shop located on East Lake Street in South Minneapolis, is one of several businesses that took advantage of the opportunity to reduce energy use and operation costs through the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

With tax day, it’s no wonder that Minnesota and the nation recognize April as Financial Capability Month. It’s a great reminder for us that one of the best ways to save money is by saving energy!

There are many basic no- and low-cost measures you can take to reduce energy use, cutting your utility bill and putting more money in your pocket.

With the Made in Minnesota solar thermal rebate still available, we spoke with Jason Edens, Director of the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL), to learn about an eligible technology, SolarWall.

While other solar thermal technologies are still available in Minnesota, SolarWall is the only one that is actively being manufactured. All others are simply drawing down existing inventory.

A random selection of applicants for the 2016 Made in Minnesota (MIM) Solar PV Incentive Program was completed this month, and 393 new residential and commercial solar electric (PV) systems were chosen to receive funding in the 10-year program’s third year.

A recent month-long campaign in Minnesota drove a ten-fold increase in Nissan Leaf sales at a single dealership.

Yes. You read that correctly, ten times as many sold as usual! Kline Nissan in Maplewood, MN sold 41 Nissan Leafs in March 2016, way up from their average volume of four vehicles per month.

Andersen Corporation recently announced that it has signed subscription agreements for up to 19 megawatts (MW) of solar power through Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Communities solar garden program. Established by the Minnesota state legislature in 2013, the program allows customers of the State’s investor-owned utilities to receive a share of electricity output from a community solar system.

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The Steve Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) honors Steve Hansen, a brilliant educator who taught thousands of students in Wisconsin about the importance of renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and earth stewardship.

In Northeast Minnesota, CERTs leveraged McKnight Foundation funding to assist three highly-motivated Minnesota GreenStep Cities (Grand Marais, Mountain Iron, and Pine City) with advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy within their business and commercial sectors.

UMD and Lake Superior College (LSC) were each recently awarded technical assistance grants to learn more about the feasibility and economic assessment of installing solar photovoltaics on their campuses. Photovoltaic systems generate electricity by converting sunlight into direct current electricity.

In support of the U.S.

How much energy could you save just by giving business owners a face-to-face reminder of the available rebates from their local utility? CERTs and the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) decided to find out. The Plan: Over the course of 19 months, CERTs staff visited 15 of SMMPA’s 18 member municipal utilities to increase awareness about their rebate programs.

Affordable solar thermal systems are now within reach for more Minnesota homes and businesses. The Commerce Department announced that it will offer rebate opportunities beginning March 30, 2016 to all residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities as part of its Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program.

Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) installed Grand Marais’s first solar electric system recently. Owners of Art House Bed and Breakfast, Arrowsmith DeCoux and his family—wife Rose and son Ennis—are very involved in the community and they view the installation as a community statement (and basically the right thing to do).

Interest in solar energy is rapidly expanding in Minnesota, and many homeowners are looking for good ways to pay for solar installations.

Traditional financing options are not always a great fit for renewable energy systems, but a Minnesota organization has a new solar-specific program.

With trains rumbling down the tracks nearby, 25 people gathered at The Depot in Wadena March 15th to learn about clean energy projects gaining steam in communities across the region.

Central CERT Coordinator Sarah Hayden kicked things off by updating folks about recently funded Seed Grants and upcoming Solar Power Hours.

Over 30 people gathered at the Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center in Rochester on March 2, 2016 to network and set priorities around local clean energy projects.

On Tuesday, March 8th, over 40 people gathered in Sunburg, MN (pop. 100) at their Community Center to participate in the West Central CERT Energy Networking & Priority Setting event.

The Woodbury City Council took a giant leap into clean energy when they approved a community solar garden subscription at the March 9th council meeting.

The agreement with Geronimo Energy locks in nearly $1.5 million in savings for the city over 25 years. This calculates to $57,000 annual savings on the city’s electric utility bill.

The Association of Energy Service Professionals, or AESP, is the premier organization for professionals dedicated to improving the delivery and implementation of energy efficiency, energy management, and distributed renewable resources.

Dan Linehan with the Mankato Free Press recently published a great article about solar development in south-central Minnesota and the opportunities that landowners and local governments are finding. Excerpt: When John Frey of Mankato received an inquiry about putting a solar array on his land, he didn’t need to be persuaded on the merits.

Examples of communities saving energy and money with LED lighting just keep rolling in. Down in Winona County, the Ridgeway Community School utilized a CERTs Seed Grant back in 2014 to improve their lighting efficiency.

Ridgeway Community School is a public charter school serving the families of Pleasant Hill Township as well as the neighboring townships.

Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.13 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2015, according to a new study by ABF Economics out this week.

The study, commissioned by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, said the industry generated $7.37 billion in gross sales in 2015 for Minnesota businesses.

This, in turn, generated $1.