News

I originally posted this on my blog during a community-based social marketing training on November 2, 2011.

For the last two days, I’ve attended Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr’s (DMM) Introductory Workshop on Community-Based Social Marketing. DMM went through the process of behavior identification and delineation; barrier and benefit analysis; tools to overcome those barriers; and pilot structures.

This Midwest Energy News article was originally posted by on January 6, 2012 by Dan Haugen. After a slow spring and summer, Dan Williams was busy this fall. The solar installer climbed rooftops across the Twin Cities in response to demand from a new made-in-Minnesota solar PV rebate. Williams is vice president of Powerfully Green, a solar installation company based in Champlin, Minnesota.

Wes Schultz is a professor at California State University – San Marcos, and is one of the leading American researcher around community-based social marketing, in an article he has prepared for Conservation Biology (to be published in 2012), that he shared with me, he hits home what I consider are the most powerful and useful takeaways from this field so far.

This information was originally part of a Midwest Energy News article by Dan Haugen on November 7, 2011. His reflection on the Institute on the Environment’s E3 (Energy, Economy and Environment) conference at the University of Minnesota follows.

Heating the Midwest (HTM), a newly-formed biomass thermal advocacy group, announced its official structure, mission and intent. The group represents industry, government, non-profit, university and tribal organizations that have a vested interest in growing awareness and usage of woody and agricultural biomass (i.e.

The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is now inviting businesses to apply for their intern program. Each summer, the program hires and places highly qualified students in manufacturing or healthcare facilities to develop solutions for waste and energy problems.

This Midwest Energy News report was originally posted by on October 21, 2011 by Ken Paulman.

Three Midwest states are among the most-improved in this year’s rankings from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, while Minnesota leads the region.

Seventeen Minnesota community and technical college instructors recently took part in train-the-trainer sessions on Windustry’s new Small Wind Energy Systems Curriculum and are now prepared to offer courses on the subject.

The six-credit course material was produced by Windustry and written by experts, with support from the MN Office of Energy Security.

This article, written by Stacie Kimball, originally appeared in the Alexandria Echo Press.

The new District 206 high school in Alexandria will be energy efficient due to a decision made at the most recent school board meeting. At the meeting held on Monday, November 21, the District 206 School Board voted unanimously to pursue LEED certification for the high school project.

This article, by Brian Ojanpa, originally appeared in the Mankato Free Press.

A Mankato-area renewable energy advocacy group is looking to harness the wind, albeit on a modest scale.

This Brainerd Dispatch article, Tapping Wastewater: Probing Hidden Depths for Energy, by staff writer Renee Richardson, was originally posted on May 17, 2011.

A Brainerd research partnership may have far-reaching implications regarding energy and the economy—and it comes from a steady source that’s largely untapped. The source could be surprising.

This article, by By Thomas Content, originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Midwest can seize an advantage when it comes to developing homegrown energy on the farm, a new report says.

Minnesota got some bright news this month when the U.S. Department of Energy announced the recipients of its Sunshot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER) was awarded more than $263,000 to help make solar installation faster and less expensive for small businesses and homeowners. Working with the City of St.

If you’re wondering what to give this holiday season, consider gifts that save energy. Energy savings is a gift that keeps giving year round. Otter Tail Power Company offers these energy-saving gift ideas for the people on your list.

LED desk or piano lamps: For students, musicians, and people with home offices, consider sleek and modern LED lamps designed for desk or piano.

Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman is representing the State of Minnesota at the White House today. Rothman is meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu, top White House energy officials, and more than 60 CEOs, mayors, energy leaders, and labor representatives from states around the country.

This was originally posted as a press release from the Department of Commerce.

As cold weather settles across Minnesota and furnaces kick in to high gear, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER) issued a consumer alert reminding consumers of some basic energy-saving measures to practice in the frigid winter months ahead.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER) requests proposals and fee schedules from qualifying firms and individuals to provide energy engineering services for the Local Government Public Buildings Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program (PBEEEP).

Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of 28 best practices.

Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more specific actions from a list of four to eight actions.