Clean Energy Resource Teams

 
February 2-3, 2011
Saint Cloud Civic Center
10 4th Avenue South, Saint Cloud, MN 56301

Join CERTs and hundreds of other Minnesotans for our fourth biennial conference! CERTs connects you and your community members with resources to identify and implement energy efficiency & renewable energy projects. The conference website will continue to grow as the event approaches at 2011.MNCERTs.org.

CERTs 2011 will be a great place for your organization to be seen!
CERTs 2011 sponsor and exhibitor info will be available soon! We anticipate that our rates will be similar to last year, so download the 2009 Sponsor & Exhibitor Packet so that you can plan CERTs 2011 into your budget now. Sign up to stay in the loop at Updates.MNCERTs.org.

Nominate a CERTs 2011 Planning Committee Member Today!
CERTs is working to put together a Planning Committee for next year’s conference, and we need your help. Tell us about an energy geek or sparkplug in your community who would be an outstanding addition to our team! And don’t be afraid to nominate yourself! Email the person’s name, title, organization, email and phone, along with why you think they would make a great Planning Committee member to Maggie Kozak at makozak@umn.edu.

• What makes a good Planning Committee member?
  • Expertise or interest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, or community development
  • Can attend eight conference calls from May to December and work a little in between
  • Connected to the community in a significant way
  • Enthusiastic about working collaboratively as part of a group
  • Interest and experience planning events
  • Understands CERTs’ audience
  • Plans to attend CERTs 2011 on February 2-3, 2011
• What will the Planning Committee members do?
  • Help set goals and key themes for CERTs 2011
  • Identify and recruit event sponsors and exhibitors
  • Outline overall agenda sessions, keynote speakers, and more
  • Plan individual sessions in their area of expertise or interest
  • Spread the word about the conference in their circles of influence
  • Attend CERTs 2011 and enjoy the fruits of their labor!
  • Get recognized for your leadership by people across the state!

Learn more about the CERTs 2011 and past events at 2011.MNCERTs.org.

The Rochester Area 2010 Think Green Fair will take place from 10am-9pm on June 26th, 2010 at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds, Graham Park. Join us for this full full day celebration of green living and sustainability in southern Minnesota!

What is Thinking Green? Thinking green means learning to live in a way that will reduce your impact on the environment, improve your quality of life, and save you money. Thinking Green is about coming together with neighborhoods, communities, organizations, and businesses to ensure that the choices we make today will not compromise the quality of life for future generations.

The fair will include a green expo, workshops, speakers, musical entertainment, local food, artisans and children’s activities providing you the opportunity to think green in all aspects of your life.

The goal of the fair is to educate attendees in the areas of:

• Efficiency/Renewable energy
• Conservation/Protection of water and/or air
• Earth friendly home and garden products
• Waste reduction
• Durable/Reusable products
• Natural or locally produced foods (free-range, pesticide-free)
• Green certification (USDA Organic, Energy Star, Fair Trade, LEED, other)
• Health and Wellness
• Promotion of environmental values

If your environmental business or organization would like to be a vendor or sponsor, visit www.rneighbors.org/thinkgreen.

 
5 Unique Ways to Go Green if You’re Living in a Dorm by Zach Miners in U.S. News and World Report features St.Olaf College.

Opening paragraph: College is often termed the best years of your life. Now, recent trends suggest that it is also becoming pretty green. A growing number of colleges and universities are seeking ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, many with energy-efficient facilities and construction projects. A wind turbine at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, for example, provides 33 percent of campus electricity and saves more than $250,000 annually in utility costs. Richard Stockton College in New Jersey is heated and cooled using one of the country’s largest closed-loop geothermal systems, and students living in a new green-themed dorm at Dartmouth College use, on average, about 60 percent less energy than other students on campus. Plans for the dorm, named the Sustainable Living Center, call for it to be a waste-free, energy-neutral student residence.

Read the full article >>

 
As we kick off 2010, we are excited to announce the projects awarded CERTs seed grants in each of the seven Minnesota CERTs regions. These catalyzing grants of up to $11,000 will help projects garner further funding and bring communities together in identifying and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Read on for all of the details!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. If you want to learn more about past projects, are interested in our proposal process, or want to prepare for future funding, visit our Request for Proposals page.

Jump to Region: Central | Metro | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West Central

 
The federal stimulus bill gave money to state governments earmarked for energy-savings initiatives. Minnesota is using $4.1 million of its federal funding to provide grants to commercial, industrial and nonprofit property owners planning to make substantial energy-efficiency and/or renewable-energy improvements in 2010 and 2011. Some of the money will be given directly to property owners making energy improvements and some will go to 501©3 nonprofits and economic development organizations seeking to create their own grant funds. The due date is February 12, 2010 by 4pm. See this summary from Energy Smart for more info or go directly to Office of Energy Security RFP details.

 
NW CERT is hiring a coordinator to help staff their region of Minnesota. The Coordinator will be instrumental in working with various organizations and individuals to move community-scale projects forward within the region by connecting people with the technical resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

The ideal candidate for this position will be someone with knowledge of clean energy practices, models and technologies and someone who is good at working with people. Travel is required to perform the responsibilities of this position; a personal vehicle is required, with reimbursement of travel to be made according to State policies.

Applications are due on January 20, 2009 at 4:30pm. An official release, as well as position general responsibilities, qualifications and additional information can be accessed at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/about/press/01/10/northwest-clea....

 
It has already been a cold winter, and we are just getting started! Before too much of that air you are heating sneaks out of your home, consider doing some work to tighten up your home and make it more efficient and comfortable this winter. In the end, your pocketbook will be thanking you!

To help you get the work done, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers three key home improvement loan options for Minnesota homeowners, all with a central focus on energy efficiency—but also including eligibility for solar and wind energy systems.

Read more to learn a little about each option, or click here to see all the details.

 
Global Warming Solutions Coordinator, Fresh Energy: Work with Fresh Energy’s innovative and aggressive Global Warming Solutions program. The program aims to advance global warming policy solutions by promoting smart state and national legislation to reduce global warming pollution, catalyzing innovative approaches to business and local government, and making the case to businesses, government, and citizens that global warming must be confronted now. The Coordinator will work with the Science Policy Director on specific outreach and analytical projects, and will have writing and public outreach responsibilities. The position includes extensive contact with collaborators and community members. Some travel and attending occasional weekend and evening meetings may be required.
Applications accepted until position is filled   |   Click to learn more and apply >>

Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Ramsey County: This is a one-year position that is funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) provided to Ramsey County by the Federal Government out of ARRA funds. It is possible that this position could continue beyond one year. The person in this position will work with Public Health and Property Management staff to help plan, organize, guide and coordinate the County’s efforts to create an internal County energy/sustainability plan, with an aim to implement sustainable and energy-related practices within the organization, including addressing current methods and practices that could be made more sustainable, researching new and emerging technology and sustainability practices, educating the organization regarding sustainable practices and developing and implementing sustainability goals and strategies. This is professional and administrative work to identify, develop, implement and coordinate innovative and effective programs to improve sustainability and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from County operations, and related duties as assigned.
Applications accepted until Friday, December 4th, 11:59pm   |   Click to learn more and apply >>

 
Hello CERT members and friends! Please check out our October 2009 Monthly Update for clean energy news and announcements from across Minnesota! Included in this update:

• Regional Highlights & Activities
• Link of the Month
• Action Alert
• Upcoming Events

 
NOVEMBER 9th, SLAYTON, MN — The Southwest and West Central Clean Energy Resource Teams seek temporary appointment of Southwest and West Central CERT Regional Coordinator(s).

The Coordinator will be instrumental in working with various organizations and individuals to move community-scale projects forward within the region by connecting people with the technical resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

Position will be paid by contract with CERTs $16.00 – $20.00 an hour for either a 40-hour/week appt or two 20 hours/ week appointments from December 2009 – June 2010 (no benefits) and with the potential for renewal through June 2011. Southwest and West Central CERT Coordinator(s) will be supervised by and report to the CERT Coordinator for the UM Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Position may office out of a home office or may be provided space with one or more of the Project Partners.

BA or BS, technical background in energy research and data analysis desired but not required. Travel is required to perform the responsibilities of this position, personal vehicle is required, reimbursement of travel will be made according to State policies.

Position general responsibilities, qualifications and additional information can be accessed at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org. Send resume to Annette Bair, Southwest Regional Development Commission and Southwest CERT coordinator by 11/20/09 4:30 pm at either phydev@swrdc.org or 2401 Broadway Ave, Slayton, MN 56172. Position to be filled by January 2010.

Download release & position description (Word) >>
Download release & position description (PDF) >>

Contact:
Annette Bair
SW Clean Energy Resource Team Coordinator
Physical Development Director
Southwest Regional Development Commission
2401 Broadway Ave
Slayton, MN 56172
Email: phydev@swrdc.org
Phone: 507.836.1631
Fax: 507.836.8866