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Do It Green! Minnesota is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with a mission to educate and motivate Minnesotans to live sustainably and to build healthy communities.

Some of Minnesota’s middle school students are getting involved with the clean energy movement! The Clean Air & Biodiesel Lesson & Poster Contest, Sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, was administered by the American Lung Association recently across the state of Minnesota. The contest was open to all 5th and 6th grade classes.

On some level, everyone is connected to agriculture. That simple fact is at the heart of KSMQ’s local series, Farm Connections, now in its fifth season. Joel Haskard and Fritz Ebinger with the Clean Energy Resource Teams joined Farm Connections host Dan Hoffman and other guests to highlight energy efficiency innovations and opportunities on Minnesota farms.

The Billion Dollar Green Challenge is helping university campuses across the nation to become more energy and resource-efficient. The program works with universities to set aside money for a Green Revolving Fund. Student leaders from the university will then submit project proposals to help improve the campus in a green way.

Groundwater modeling is showing that Minnesota’s current water use cannot be sustained into the future. To discuss the issue and learn about solutions, staff from Minnesota cities came together on May 21, 2013 in Saint Paul to learn how cities are and can help residents and businesses to cut water use and costs and save money on new city wells.

I had a chance to chat with WoodMaster co-founder and President Chuck Gagner about their biomass boilers and furnaces, and the industry here in Minnesota.

Southeast Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT) is hosting an exciting free energy event Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Join us as we hear from organizations in the Southeast region that have taken action to complete innovative seed grant projects.

Short-term green energy training model shows great promise: A short-term green energy training program in northeastern Minnesota generated full-time, living wage jobs for seven grateful participants. But the program’s impact can be measured not only in job creation, but in the benefits to those who did not immediately secure employment.

Crow Wing Power members are invited to participate in the Biggest Saver Challenge to use less electricity than they have in previous years—a contest which could win them a credit of $50, $100 or $250 off their electric bill! The biggest saver is the biggest winner.

Saint Paul, MN—Over 150 people gathered at the Science Museum of Minnesota on April 17th to attend the annual Metro CERT Spring Resource and Networking Event. The night provided a chance to learn about emerging technologies, connect with key players in community clean energy, check out an array of resources, and celebrate the 6th year of Metro CERT.

Spring time is a good look on Minnesota, wouldn’t you say? And summer is a even better one! With some of our hottest days ahead of us, consider joining Minnesota Valley Electric Company’s (MVEC) energy-saving campaign: “Beat the Peak Energy Challenge.” The main premise of the campaign is to reduce energy usage on the most energy-intensive days of summer (i.e. the hottest).

The following is a sample of new energy-related funding opportunities being promoted by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.

Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) enables extensive energy upgrade: When Chisago City purchased 70 acres of beautiful lakefront property just south of town in 2006, the acquisition presented a great opportunity. Not only did it allow Chisago City to establish Ojiketa Regional Park, it offered the chance to provide a community center long desired by the town.

State ARRA-funded C&I grant helps fund building retrofit: St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood is constantly seeking ways to improve its infrastructure in the most cost-effective ways. And when the stimulus-funded Commercial and Industrial Grant Program from the Minnesota Department of Commerce came along, it made energy efficiency easy.

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The Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) on the Hunt Utilities Group Research campus in Pine River, Minnesota, has been working to address energy poverty for over a decade. It runs a statewide Solar Assistance program that is supported by RREAL’s solar installation and design services in an effort to make renewable energy accessible to everyone.

Located in the Minnesota River valley just southwest of the Twin Cities, Chaska bills itself as “a quality small town.” As the city grows, it is committed to doing so responsibly to improve quality of life for its residents.

Minnesota’s climate is anything but mild—from toasty hot summers to bitterly cold winters. To help save on your home’s energy and water use, follow these landscaping tips:

If your house struggles to keep cool in the summer:

Plant bushes or trees along the South wall. By blocking the suns rays for most of the day you will stop any excessive heating.

Do you know an emerging clean energy company that could use some help to achieve commercial success? The experience and training available through the collaborative efforts of the Minnesota Cup and Cleantech Open programs may give them the advantage they need to succeed.

Solar, wind, and geothermal are great—but using less energy from the start is a fantastic way to save energy. Efficiency (from household appliances to commercial HVAC systems) involves making as little energy as possible do as much as possible. Want to know how Minnesota is doing with efficiency?

Take a gander at a new infographic from the Center for Energy and Environment below.

Twelve Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grants have been awarded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER) from last year’s request for proposals (RFP). Over $2.

The US Department of Agriculture announced their Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application recently. These grants can pay for up to 25% of the eligible costs of a renewable energy project. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of funding and implement your renewable energy and/or energy efficiency projects in the Minnesota. The deadline is now May 31, 2013.