Northwest Minnesota sparks collaboration

On September 19, NW CERT Coordinator Anna Peterson and Crystal Rayamajhi of the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) brought together an enthusiastic group for the NW MN Sustainability Event. The goal — To unite people across northwestern Minnesota in the pursuit of sustainability and clean energy initiatives.

The event started with introductions, where attendees shared their backgrounds and hopes for the gathering. One participant, capturing the urgency of the moment, remarked, “I want to see what this is all about. It’s vitally important that our community starts getting involved in the clean energy transition because rural America desperately needs it.”

Following the round of introduction, Crystal Rayamajhi, outreach specialist with NW RSDP, took the floor to spotlight the sustainability projects they’re working on in Northwestern Minnesota. 

Next, CERTs' Anna Peterson introduced the Community Energy Ambassador program and shared how attendees could get involved. She also announced an exciting upcoming event on October 17, the NW MN Sustainability Network, noting that there’s currently nothing like it in the region.

As one attendee noted, “There’s a lot happening in the NW. If you get the right people with ambition and knowing there’s a need, I don’t see why this wouldn’t take off.”

After the presentations, the conversation opened up to a thought-provoking Q&A session, sparking discussions around crucial topics, including:

• How do we engage the community?
  • Bring awareness to utility rebates and make it clear that residents won’t have to bear the full cost of upgrades.
  • Meet people where they are.
    
     
• How do we inform our communities about clean energy?
  • By hosting events like this one and the upcoming October gathering.
    
     
• What home energy audit programs exist for NW MN residents?
  • Utilities often collaborate with Community Action Partnerships on energy assistance and weatherization programs to provide income qualified residents with a home energy audit.
    
     
• How do we train more energy auditors?
  • With many rebates requiring home energy audits by 2025, there’s a need to develop a local workforce to fill this gap.
    
     
• How can we balance energy consumption with solar, battery storage, and net metering?
  • Educate residents on what this means for them and utilities, and work together to launch these projects.
    
     
• How do we find collaborators for clean energy projects?
  • Attend networking events like this one!

The event wrapped up with a call to action — those inspired by the discussions were encouraged to become a Community Energy Ambassador and join the NW MN Sustainability Network event on October 17. 

Ready to dive deeper and collaborate on clean energy projects in NW Minnesota? Don’t miss your chance to be part of the movement!