News

Interest in solar energy and community solar gardens has exploded this year in Minnesota, and people are hungry for tools that can help them move forward.

To meet the demand, the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) has relaunched the Clean Energy Project Builder website, which helps people find companies that can help them plan, implement, and manage clean energy projects (and now much more).

Since the passage of Minnesota’s 2013 solar legislation there has been a lot of interest in Community Solar Gardens (CSGs), especially in Xcel Energy’s service territory.

USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today announced that USDA is awarding 34 grants that will help Minnesota rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. Funding will go towards energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems.

Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP), a nationally-recognized energy efficiency program, generates at least four dollars in benefits for every dollar invested, according to an independent analysis released today by the Minnesota Commerce Department.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better location for a university with an environmental emphasis in its mission. Poised on the shores of Lake Bemidji, nestled in the northwoods, Bemidji State University (BSU) has long been committed to environmental protection.

A new community solar garden is producing power on the North Shore for members of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative! On October 5th, thirty citizens turned out on a cloudy morning in Lusten to help dedicate the first community solar garden on the North Shore. Arrowhead Electric Cooperative and Great River Energy shared in the planning and development of the 60 KW solar array.

The Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative (GNSC) began in August 2013 as an effort to bridge and strengthen local sustainability initiatives at the City of Northfield, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, local non‐profit organizations and community groups.

Have you heard the news? Duluth is one of the final cities competing in the Georgetown University Energy Prize Competition (GUEP) that will award one of 50 cities $5 million for efficient energy saving.

Ecolibrium3, one of the main partners in the Duluth Energy effort, used a Northeast CERT Seed Grant to help create two video campaigns completed by Lola Visuals.

RE-fest is a celebration of green living and clean energy focused on educating the community about the positive impact individual actions can have on the environment. Last year’s celebration was Saturday, September 20th from 11am–4pm at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin, MN.

The energy focus of the event is primarily efficiency and conservation, with renewables being high on the list.

On Thursday, October 1st, over thirty folks gathered in New London’s Little Theatre to learn about the people, organizations, and funding opportunities to help them get their clean energy projects done. Erin Smith, the West Central Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Coordinator, led things off with a welcome and introductions.

Metro CERT is excited to announce our newest staff member, Maddie Norgaard, who started in September as our new Minnesota GreenCorps Member at Great Plains Institute!

Maddie’s work includes assisting local governments and schools with tracking and reducing their energy use through energy efficiency measures.

If you are traveling down south to Austin, Minnesota (home of the Spam Museum), be sure to check out their new solar-powered electric vehicle charger! Partially funded by a CERTs Seed Grant, the system was installed by Austin Utilities with the help of Riverland Community College students.

Minnesota is the nation’s number one turkey producer. A CERTs Seed Grant helped research ways to further reduce energy costs in turkey barns and strengthen these core Minnesota businesses. Turkey production facilities have high ventilation make-up air loads and therefore high heating loads.

Power Up Winona Community Solar is a group of 20 citizens formed with the commitment of bringing a 1 MW community solar garden (CSG) to Xcel Energy territory in Winona County.

They are close to realizing a CSG which will have about 30-40% residential subscriptions and 60-70% local institutions.

In 2014 few people knew that the Rochester Energy Commission (REC) existed and had been around since 2010. The REC lacked any branding and outreach, and did not have the resources to address these needs. Thanks in part to a CERTs Seed Grant, that has now changed.

Want to have a voice in Minnesota’s clean energy future? Participate in the upcoming Minnesota 2025 Energy Action Plan events! CERTs will host four (4) events to gather feedback from Minnesotans statewide.

Bonnie Hometown Grocery is often the center of action for folks in Clinton, Minnesota (pop. 450). As owner of the store, Bonnie Carlson knows that the store is not only needed for groceries, but also provides a civic and social gathering place. She has to be creative looking for resources, and has held more than one community fundraiser to make sure her business survives.

The Made in Minnesota (MiM) Solar Program is a lottery-based incentive available to Minnesotans who install solar equipment that is made in Minnesota. Metro CERT Director Diana McKeown sat down with Kim Havey, Made in Minnesota Solar Program Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, to learn more about the program and how it’s working in the state.

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! CERTs seeks to provide Seed Grants to support the labor costs for clean energy projects that spur community development in Minnesota.

There are now ten new solar thermal units installed on White Earth tribal members’ homes on the reservation, providing indoor space heating from the sun.

“Our tribal community suffers from rampant fuel poverty and a high drain of our energy economy,” says Tom Ferrarell, project coordinator of the White Earth Solar Thermal Install and Training project.

You have to hand it to Warren (pop. 1,563)—this little town in Northwest Minnesota knows how to leverage CERTs Seed Grants! Warren submitted and received two seed grants from CERTs, both focused on energy efficiency upgrades. First, they worked to convert their old hospital and clinic building into an office space, now called the Westbridge Center.

Solar projects in parks can be a great way for the general public to get familiar with the technology while at the same time reducing energy costs for the city.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES), a non-profit that promotes solar energy in Minnesota through education and the demonstration of practical application, has been conducting the Minnesota Solar Tour for about 14 years via volunteers or staff located in the Twin Cities area.

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Over thirty people gathered in Austin, Minnesota on Wednesday, August 5th at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to hear from community members and civic leaders taking clean energy action across multiple sectors on a wide range of projects in Austin. The event was a Southeast Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT) regional meeting. Media: The event got a lot of attention from local media outlets.