News

In 2007 a screen printing class at the University of Minnesota created an amazing set of posters focused on community clean energy and energy efficiency.

The folks at the West Central Research Outreach Center (WCROC) decided to throw a party recently in honor of their new green building dedication! The celebration took the form of a renewable energy road trip to showcase the great work that the folks at WCROC, University of Minnesota-Morris, local community members, and private companies in the area are doing to create a clean energy future.

The Office of Energy Security just released its most recent installment of current funding opportunities in the fields of energy and environment. Check out the opportunities now at http://funding.mncerts.

Save money on a new system & support MN manufacturers while incentives last   For a limited time only, the MN Office of Energy Security is offering a significant rebate for solar thermal installations on homes and businesses across the state! Heat your water or your home this winter with a reliable, energy efficient, and cost-saving solar thermal system.

The Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) is a non-profit organization focused on creating and sharing knowledge about environmental issues and policies relevant to women, children and identified communities especially affected by environmental injustices.

The Green Institute and ALL the tenants in our building hosted the largest free breakfast for bikers and walkers last Thursday in the Twin Cities for BikeWalk to Work Day! Guests included Mayor R. T. Rybak, Councilmembers Schiff and Glidden, Commissioner McLaughlin, and Rep.

Like biking? Like free food and coffee? Then you should definitely come to the 3rd annual Brake for Breakfast event this Thursday, June 10th from 7-9am! The tentants of the Phillips Eco Enterprise Center will be serving a FREE breakfast in the parking lot! Menu includes: Birchwood Cafe pastries, eggs, pancakes, sausage, vegan sweet rolls, tofu scramble, oatmeal, Peace Coffee and juice.

Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon won the 2010 Environmental Initiative Award in the Energy and Climate Protection category at the Minnesota Environmental Initiative’s Award Ceremony! Congratulations, everyone! The Minnesota Environmental Initiative Awards are held every year to recognize outstanding partnerships.

Do you lecture your family about turning off the lights? Would you consider a visit to a wind turbine a good use of vacation time? Do you like to talk with others about clean energy? We have a job for you! The Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team seeks temporary appointment of a Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator.

The average Minnesota student spends approximately one hour every day riding a school bus. Buses are the most common way for children to get to and from school, but the air quality inside buses can be up to five times as polluted as the air quality outside.

These presentations were given as part of the April 21, 2010 Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team meeting on Smart Grid Technology in Northwest Minnesota. Together these presentations offer an introduction to smart grid technology general, and highlight its use in NW MN.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security (OES) is requesting proposals from Minnesota school districts, park districts, towns, cities, counties, and townships for the Facility Cost-Share Grant Program funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

On April 26, 2010 Southwest CERT and Southwest Regional Development Commission held a workshop in Redwood Falls on wind energy development and land use to educate anyone interested in the issues and provide a forum for discussion and learning.

The ReUse Center Stores, a program of the Green Institute, are holding a 20% Off Sale (no exclusions) that began last week on April 28th and will continue for a limited time only. It is rare that they hold a sale with no exclusions!

ReUse Center products include salvaged materials, reclaimed materials, brand new materials, FSC wood products, rain barrels, kitchens, granite.

The Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) has received a 2010 Dream Maker Award from the Ann Bancroft Foundation for its work on environmental issues and policies relevant to women, children and low-income communities.

Growing food & building community in Little Earth: One of the projects WEI is being recognized for is called “Green Energy for Food Justice.

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A grant program called “Facility Cost-Share” is now accepting proposals from local governments and school districts looking to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. A webinar this week will introduce the program to potential applicants.

Students from across the state gathered in the Rotunda at the Minnesota State Capitol this Earth Day to talk about actions they’re taking to reduce the carbon footprints of their schools. They shared the microphone with legislators and climate leaders who have been working to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green jobs in Minnesota.

We are absolutely elated by all of the super-awesome Earth Day events happening in schools across the state, and all of the time and energy that students in Minnesota have devoted to saving energy and reducing our carbon footprint! As energy-related issues are ever-present in our society, climate change is said to be the greatest challenge of our time.

CERTs is taking this opportunity to highlight events and reflections on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. So, if you’re looking for something to do tomorrow or looking to do a little reflecting on how far we’ve come since the first Earth Day, check out the links below. I’m sure there are events we’ve forgotten.

From WinonaDailyNews.com, story by Dustin Kass

Energy efficiency improvements helped reduce the city of Winona’s energy costs by more than $120,000 in 2009, while similar upgrades saved Winona County more than $27,000 last year.

From Rochester Post-Bulletin, story by Jeff Hansel

Mayo Clinic announced yesterday that it plans to undertake what they’re calling the the largest solar energy project in southeast Minnesota.

Beginning this summer, about 500 solar panels will be installed on the roof of Mayo Clinic’s Damon Patient/Visitor Parking Ramp in downtown Rochester, the clinic said.

The City of Edina is one of five Metro cities piloting the GreenStep Cities program with the PCA and Urban Land Institute Minnesota before CERTs and the GreenStep Cities Steering Committee officially launch the program in June at the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in St. Cloud.