CERTs 2009: Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota's Energy Future

Save the date: Feb 10-11, 2009

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The Third Clean Energy Resource Teams Statewide Conference

will be held in St. Cloud on February 10-11, 2009!

 
CERTs 2009: Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota’s Energy Future will bring together
over 500 Minnesotans who are blazing the paths to a clean energy future with those who are interested
in working on energy efficiency and clean energy in their communities, thus accelerating our learning
process together. You won’t want to miss it.

Since the last conference CERTs was written into Minnesota state statute, catalyzed over 60 energy efficiency and clean energy projects, and helped Minnesota communities to begin working with newly passed state energy policy goals.

Over 400 people attended the second statewide CERTs Conference, Local Energy/Local Opportunities,
in January of 2007 in Saint Cloud, MN. Participants were diverse—utility representatives, local officials, energy experts, school & university faculty and staff, business owners, farmers, members of environmental groups, congregation leaders, and other community members—and all had one thing in common: seeking new opportunities to learn about and incorporate clean energy and energy saving technology into their everyday lives and their communities.

The first conference was Tomorrow’s Energy in Communities Today, in February of 2005.

This year’s event will start with optional pre-conference workshops and an evening reception followed by the daylong conference. Wind, solar, biogas, efficient cooling, heating and lighting, and fuel-efficient cars will be discussed. We will hear from successful CERTs-supported projects, trailblazing green cities and schools, and we will learn the latest about green jobs, green manufacturing, and green investment & financing in Minnesota. Networking sessions will allow like-minded attendees to learn from one another, and a conference documentary and online discussion forum will allow us to harness our collective resources and share them beyond the event.

The goals of this year’s conference are to:

  • Highlight community action to become more energy efficient and achieve energy security
  • Connect CERT members with the tools and technical support to implement community energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
  • Highlight successful CERT projects
  • Provide networking opportunities for CERTs members, technical resources and others interested in community energy

Conference Planning Committee

 
Central Region
Sue Peterson – Azariah Acres Farm
Bob McLean – Hunt Utilities Group
Rin Porter – Freelance Journalist

Metro Region
Gary Connett – Great River Energy

Northeast Region
Bill Mittlefehldt – NE CERT Coordinator
Mark Thell – Onanegozie RC&D Council
Dean Talbott – Minnesota Power

Northwest Region
Jim Steenerson – Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Michael Moore – City of Thief River Falls

Southeast Region
Susan Waughtal – SE CERT
Dan Hayes – Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
Lawrence Landherr – SE CERT

Southwest Region
Lisa Noty – USDA Rural Development
Lisa Hughes – MN Department of Employment and Economic Development

West Central Region
Cheryl Glaeser – Southwest Initiative Foundation
Dawn Hegland – Upper MN Valley Regional Development Commission

CERTs Staff
Dan Thiede – The Minnesota Project
Joel Haskard – UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
Annette Bair – Southwest Regional Development Commission
Diana McKeown – The Green Institute
Chris Gilchrist – MN Office of Energy Security, Department of Commerce