The Phillips Community Energy Co-op (PCEC) is an urban energy co-op working to significantly lower energy costs and increase the use of clean energy throughout the Phillips community in South Minneapolis. The PCEC is committed to bringing affordable energy-efficient products and services to Phillips community renters, homeowners, landlords, and small businesses. Together, PCEC members and staff work to democratize the energy industry, demand better customer service from local utilities, promote cleaner and safer energy production, and make the community a healthier place to live and work.
Recently, the PCEC has been working to educate the Phillips neighborhood on home weatherization through workshops. Collaborating with organizations like the Twin Cities Experimental College, Waite House Community Center, the Midtown Farmer’s Market, and various Phillips neighborhood groups, the PCEC has trained over one hundred people on basic home weatherization measures. The group has signed up over 700 of its members for the Minnesota Energy Challenge, making the PCEC the top Environmental Energy Challenge team, made possible through a City of Minneapolis Climate Change Innovation grant.
“This grant was an excellent opportunity for us to pilot a new program at the energy cooperative that addressed energy issues for our membership, primarily renters who are often most burdened by high heating bills,” said Julia Eagles, project manager at the PCEC. “Our members have pledged to save a total of 1,504,860 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions and $131,778!”
