News

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.

It might be hard to measure Janet Streff’s impact in BTUs saved, clean energy megawatts generated, or carbon emissions reduced. But it’s clear that the State Energy Office manager of the past 17 years has been a true champion of energy policies and programs that have greatly benefited Minnesota—and that rank with the nation’s best.

The new Energy Fit Homes is a certificate program that focuses on energy efficient upgrades that are cost-effective to the homeowner.

Looks like we’re on pace to exceed Renewable Energy Standard of 25% by 2025!

Minnesota generated 21 percent of its electricity from renewable energy in 2015, up from just six percent a decade ago, putting the state well on pace to exceed its Renewable Energy Standard of 25 percent by 2025, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is undertaking a statewide lighting conversion project and saving some money along the way. The project involves converting more than 28,500 roadway lights from traditional high-pressure sodium to LED or light emitting diode technology. The conversion includes replacing the light fixtures and bulbs.

Updated March 7, 2016 with indoor lighting project details. Larry and Deb Potter own Blue Line Travel Center in Worthington, MN. For a long time they thought about saving energy with lighting upgrades, but they could not find the right financing to get it done.

The Minnesota Women in Energy series highlights influential women who are part of our state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. CERTs is highlighting these leaders during the month of March in 2016, which is Women’s History Month.

The Minnesota Women in Energy series highlights influential women who are part of our state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. CERTs is highlighting these leaders during the month of March in 2016, which is Women’s History Month.

The Minnesota Women in Energy series highlights influential women who are part of our state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. CERTs is highlighting these leaders during the month of March in 2016, which is Women’s History Month.

The Minnesota Women in Energy series highlights influential women who are part of our state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. CERTs is highlighting these leaders during the month of March in 2016, which is Women’s History Month.

The Minnesota Women in Energy series highlights influential women who are part of our state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. CERTs is highlighting these leaders during the month of March in 2016, which is Women’s History Month.