News

Are you an outgoing, detail-oriented individual interested in advancing clean energy solutions in Minnesota? Then we are looking for you. The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) are seeking a full-time Events Programming Coordinator to help further our mission to catalyze community-scale clean energy projects.

This webinar, offered by Minnesota Green Communities, will provide guidance on prioritizing cost-effective strategies for air sealing and insulation of single-family residencies. This is not to be missed if you’ve ever considered doing this kind of work on your home, but are working on a tight budget! Armand Magnelli will lead the webinar Thursday, August 27th from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

The Office of Energy Security is hosting this webinar to present the results of Phase II of the Dispersed Renewable Generation Transmission Study (DRG Study).

The Minnesota Project is pleased to release our newest report, Transportation Biofuels in the United States: An Update. Download the report >> These days you cannot turn around without hearing and reading about new developments in the biofuels sector—it can be nearly impossible to follow all of the news.

On August 27, 2009, join thousands around the U.S. for Power IT Down Day by powering down computers and peripherals before leaving the office or going to bed. We need your help in our commitment to save energy! On August 27, power down your computer, monitor, and printer at the end of the day.

Windustry is pleased to announce a four-part webinar series at no charge that will provide attendees with vital information regarding Community Wind and Community Energy project financing in the new policy environment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Constant learning is the key to Green building. Well, at least that is what I have been preaching. So what did I do several weeks ago? I went to learn from an assortment of individuals with diverse backgrounds who have a combined knowledge of hundreds of years. Readers of Remodeling Magazine are most likely familiar with the Remodeling Leadership Conference and the Big50 awards.

By Eric Bland, Discovery News, July 8, 2009 | Read full article >>

Urine-powered cars, homes and personal electronic devices could be available in six months with new technology developed by scientists from Ohio University.

Using a nickel-based electrode, the scientists can create large amounts of cheap hydrogen from urine that could be burned or used in fuel cells.

A total of 61 farmers and rural small businesses in Minnesota have been selected to receive almost $2.5 million in grants and loans to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The funding is awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Have you or your community worked with CERTs? Perhaps you’re on one of our regional CERT Steering Committees, or you received seed grant funding for a project. Maybe you joined us at our biennial conference or a regional clean energy tour. You might also be a visitor to our website who found just what you were looking for. Whatever your story, we want to hear from you.

This limited, full-time job is open to all qualified seekers.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to interview Seth Fore, a masters student at the University of Minnesota Crookston who has been working with professor Paul Porter to study small-scale on-farm biofuel production. Their project is an innovative approach to farm-based energy sustainability that has been supported with both CERTs staff time and seed grant funding.

This permanent, full-time job is open to all qualified seekers. It offers the opportunity to work with a team of professionals in the dynamic field of energy facility permitting to minimize adverse human and environmental impacts of facilities while ensuring continuing electric power system reliability and integrity.

I recently attended a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Office of Energy Security on July 21st, 2009 that focused on ways that utilities can design energy conservation and efficiency programs to most positively change the behavior of residents.

Right now, there are 100 student teams in schools across Minnesota working to reduce their carbon footprint, and WE WANT YOU to be a mentor! More about the teams: The teams consist of students and a faculty “coach” as well as some administration and building operations support.

Congratulations to Minnesota Green Communities for another successful Green by Design Conference! The conference content was very strong, with a focus on technical training and green building and design applications this year.

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), in conjunction with the Center for Producer Owned Energy, Aitkin County Land Development, and the Aitkin County Economic Development/Forest Industry Coordinator, is exploring the opportunity to utilize biomass resources available in Aitkin County to generate renewable energy.

Below are new stimulus developments from the Minnesota Office of Energy Secuirty. July News: A new publication called the Stimulus Funding Summary is now available on our website. This is a summary of stimulus-funded programs for homeowners, businesses and local governments.

CERTs would like to recommend some resources for those looking for work in the clean energy industries in Minnesota. Minnesota-specific job boards that you should check include PCA’s NextStep and SEEK Job Listings, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Jobs List, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Job Board.

The Office of Energy security has worked with Minnesota State Colleges and Univerities (MnSCU) to pull together a list of existing courses and workshops on conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Categories include: Workshops & Live Webinars; Online Courses; Custom Training Services; and Post-secondary education programs with green focus or green components.

The District 10 Como Community Council, which is now a Metro CERTs affiliate, is a nonprofit organization made up of elected, volunteer residents and community organizing staff that serve the Como neighborhood of St. Paul. Metro CERTs partnered with the District 10 Environment Committee in February of this year to hold a workshop on home energy efficiency upgrades.

Funding Will Speed Adoption of Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies WASHINGTON, DC – June 24, 2009 – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in ten states.

Two new and helpful publications from the folks at Green For All and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy have just been released.

The Minnesota Office of Energy Security is providing periodic updates regarding the federal stimulus in Minnesota. We will be posting these updates on the CERTs blog. June/July News: Cities, counties and Indian tribes eligible for direct formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program must apply directly to the U.S.