News

Do you have outdoor yard lighting on your property? Switching to LEDs might help you reduce your electric bill. We spoke with Brian Jeremiason, Energy Services Manager with Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, to learn about the program that they are offering their customers.

Minnesota is the #1 turkey producing and processing state in the U.S., with 450 family farmers raising approximately 44 million to 46 million turkeys annually. The cost of energy can have a big impact on the cost of food.

Our old friend Carl Samuelson, Energy Strategy Facilitator with Michaels Energy, recently brought to our attention the great energy efficiency work by management and staff at the Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Maple Grove. To learn more, we interviewed Carl and the hotel’s General Manager, Mike Severson.

During the month of October, 2015, folks in Mankato, Staples, and Grand Rapids had a chance to share their input on the Minnesota 2025 Energy Action Plan. CERTs hosted these three events (as well as an event in St.

It was obvious walking into the packed Mayflower Church community room on Thursday, November 12th that residents in South Minneapolis are curious about community solar gardens—there were barely any chairs left in the large room.

On October 22nd, over one hundred people attended the 9th annual gathering of the Metro CERT region. As always, the program provided information, connections to resources, and networking around community clean energy implementation.

Looking for a CERTs Seed Grant project example that educated students and the greater community about energy efficiency AND reduces costs AND improves the lighting quality? Look no further than the Madison, Marietta, Nassau Elementary School! Madison, Minnesota (pop. 1,551) is located in West Central Minnesota.

Interest in solar energy and community solar gardens has exploded this year in Minnesota, and people are hungry for tools that can help them move forward.

To meet the demand, the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) has relaunched the Clean Energy Project Builder website, which helps people find companies that can help them plan, implement, and manage clean energy projects (and now much more).

Since the passage of Minnesota’s 2013 solar legislation there has been a lot of interest in Community Solar Gardens (CSGs), especially in Xcel Energy’s service territory.

USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today announced that USDA is awarding 34 grants that will help Minnesota rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. Funding will go towards energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems.

Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP), a nationally-recognized energy efficiency program, generates at least four dollars in benefits for every dollar invested, according to an independent analysis released today by the Minnesota Commerce Department.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better location for a university with an environmental emphasis in its mission. Poised on the shores of Lake Bemidji, nestled in the northwoods, Bemidji State University (BSU) has long been committed to environmental protection.

A new community solar garden is producing power on the North Shore for members of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative! On October 5th, thirty citizens turned out on a cloudy morning in Lusten to help dedicate the first community solar garden on the North Shore. Arrowhead Electric Cooperative and Great River Energy shared in the planning and development of the 60 KW solar array.

The Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative (GNSC) began in August 2013 as an effort to bridge and strengthen local sustainability initiatives at the City of Northfield, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, local non‐profit organizations and community groups.

Have you heard the news? Duluth is one of the final cities competing in the Georgetown University Energy Prize Competition (GUEP) that will award one of 50 cities $5 million for efficient energy saving. Ecolibrium3, one of the main partners in the Duluth Energy effort, used a Northeast CERT Seed Grant to help create two video campaigns completed by Lola Visuals.

RE-fest is a celebration of green living and clean energy focused on educating the community about the positive impact individual actions can have on the environment. Last year’s celebration was Saturday, September 20th from 11am–4pm at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin, MN. The energy focus of the event is primarily efficiency and conservation, with renewables being high on the list.

On Thursday, October 1st, over thirty folks gathered in New London’s Little Theatre to learn about the people, organizations, and funding opportunities to help them get their clean energy projects done. Erin Smith, the West Central Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Coordinator, led things off with a welcome and introductions.

Metro CERT is excited to announce our newest staff member, Maddie Norgaard, who started in September as our new Minnesota GreenCorps Member at Great Plains Institute!

Maddie’s work includes assisting local governments and schools with tracking and reducing their energy use through energy efficiency measures.

If you are traveling down south to Austin, Minnesota (home of the Spam Museum), be sure to check out their new solar-powered electric vehicle charger! Partially funded by a CERTs Seed Grant, the system was installed by Austin Utilities with the help of Riverland Community College students.

Minnesota is the nation’s number one turkey producer. A CERTs Seed Grant helped research ways to further reduce energy costs in turkey barns and strengthen these core Minnesota businesses. Turkey production facilities have high ventilation make-up air loads and therefore high heating loads.

Power Up Winona Community Solar is a group of 20 citizens formed with the commitment of bringing a 1 MW community solar garden (CSG) to Xcel Energy territory in Winona County. They are close to realizing a CSG which will have about 30-40% residential subscriptions and 60-70% local institutions.

In 2014 few people knew that the Rochester Energy Commission (REC) existed and had been around since 2010. The REC lacked any branding and outreach, and did not have the resources to address these needs. Thanks in part to a CERTs Seed Grant, that has now changed.

Want to have a voice in Minnesota’s clean energy future? Participate in the upcoming Minnesota 2025 Energy Action Plan events! CERTs will host four (4) events to gather feedback from Minnesotans statewide.

Bonnie Hometown Grocery is often the center of action for folks in Clinton, Minnesota (pop. 450). As owner of the store, Bonnie Carlson knows that the store is not only needed for groceries, but also provides a civic and social gathering place. She has to be creative looking for resources, and has held more than one community fundraiser to make sure her business survives.

The Made in Minnesota (MiM) Solar Program is a lottery-based incentive available to Minnesotans who install solar equipment that is made in Minnesota. Metro CERT Director Diana McKeown sat down with Kim Havey, Made in Minnesota Solar Program Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, to learn more about the program and how it’s working in the state.