News

Southeast Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT) is hosting an exciting free energy event Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Join us as we hear from organizations in the Southeast region that have taken action to complete innovative seed grant projects.

Short-term green energy training model shows great promise: A short-term green energy training program in northeastern Minnesota generated full-time, living wage jobs for seven grateful participants. But the program’s impact can be measured not only in job creation, but in the benefits to those who did not immediately secure employment.

Crow Wing Power members are invited to participate in the Biggest Saver Challenge to use less electricity than they have in previous years—a contest which could win them a credit of $50, $100 or $250 off their electric bill! The biggest saver is the biggest winner.

Saint Paul, MN—Over 150 people gathered at the Science Museum of Minnesota on April 17th to attend the annual Metro CERT Spring Resource and Networking Event. The night provided a chance to learn about emerging technologies, connect with key players in community clean energy, check out an array of resources, and celebrate the 6th year of Metro CERT.

Spring time is a good look on Minnesota, wouldn’t you say? And summer is a even better one! With some of our hottest days ahead of us, consider joining Minnesota Valley Electric Company’s (MVEC) energy-saving campaign: “Beat the Peak Energy Challenge.” The main premise of the campaign is to reduce energy usage on the most energy-intensive days of summer (i.e. the hottest).

The following is a sample of new energy-related funding opportunities being promoted by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.

Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) enables extensive energy upgrade: When Chisago City purchased 70 acres of beautiful lakefront property just south of town in 2006, the acquisition presented a great opportunity. Not only did it allow Chisago City to establish Ojiketa Regional Park, it offered the chance to provide a community center long desired by the town.

State ARRA-funded C&I grant helps fund building retrofit: St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood is constantly seeking ways to improve its infrastructure in the most cost-effective ways. And when the stimulus-funded Commercial and Industrial Grant Program from the Minnesota Department of Commerce came along, it made energy efficiency easy.

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The Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) on the Hunt Utilities Group Research campus in Pine River, Minnesota, has been working to address energy poverty for over a decade. It runs a statewide Solar Assistance program that is supported by RREAL’s solar installation and design services in an effort to make renewable energy accessible to everyone.

Located in the Minnesota River valley just southwest of the Twin Cities, Chaska bills itself as “a quality small town.” As the city grows, it is committed to doing so responsibly to improve quality of life for its residents.

Minnesota’s climate is anything but mild—from toasty hot summers to bitterly cold winters. To help save on your home’s energy and water use, follow these landscaping tips:

If your house struggles to keep cool in the summer:

Plant bushes or trees along the South wall. By blocking the suns rays for most of the day you will stop any excessive heating.

Do you know an emerging clean energy company that could use some help to achieve commercial success? The experience and training available through the collaborative efforts of the Minnesota Cup and Cleantech Open programs may give them the advantage they need to succeed.

Solar, wind, and geothermal are great—but using less energy from the start is a fantastic way to save energy. Efficiency (from household appliances to commercial HVAC systems) involves making as little energy as possible do as much as possible. Want to know how Minnesota is doing with efficiency?

Take a gander at a new infographic from the Center for Energy and Environment below.

Twelve Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grants have been awarded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER) from last year’s request for proposals (RFP). Over $2.

The US Department of Agriculture announced their Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application recently. These grants can pay for up to 25% of the eligible costs of a renewable energy project. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of funding and implement your renewable energy and/or energy efficiency projects in the Minnesota. The deadline is now May 31, 2013.

From Earth Day 2012 to Earth Day 2013, two Minnesota families and hundreds of their teammates have been competing in the Family Energy FACE-OFF to see who can save more energy. This community-based energy competition was launched in a partnership between the Minnesota-based, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and the University of Minnesota Morris, Office of Sustainability.

The Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League awards a scholarship of up to $1,000 per year to assist students who enter or continue in an education program in Environmental Education, Environmental Law, Wildlife Management or some program whose primary focus is conservation of resources or environmental science.

Qualifications:

Applicant must be a Minnesota resident.

Red Lake Falls, MN—Over thirty people toured the Northwest Manufacturing plant in Red Lake Falls on April 4th to learn about the biomass industry in Minnesota. Northwest Manufacturing is home of the Wood Master furnaces, which use cord wood and biomass pellets as their fuel source.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now accepting applications from organizations interested in participating as a host site for the 2013-14 year of the Minnesota GreenCorps progam and up to 28 full time members with various host sites.

If you’re going to be a clean energy advocate, you’ve got to walk the walk. And that’s just what Moorhead Public Service (MPS), the municipal electric utility for Moorhead, Minn., has done. They’re using solar arrays and wind turbines to demonstrate the potential of renewable energy systems in their community.

The 9th Annual Small Wind Conference will be held June 18 – 19 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center. This pivotal event brings together small wind installers, manufacturers, dealers and distributors, supply chain stakeholders, educators, public benefits program managers, site assessors and advocates, all working together to move the small wind industry forward.

May 1st marks an exciting day for the clean energy community of Minnesota! The 2013 Energy for Defense II event will center on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)—the world’s largest consumer and developer of power and energy solutions—and will showcase to the DoD the innovative energy solutions available in the Midwest region.