Xcel Energy Honors Clean Energy Resource Teams as Outstanding Environmental Partner on Earth Day

On April 22, 2010 Xcel Energy held an event at their offices in downtown Minneapolis to honor earth-friendly nonprofits in Minnesota for their commitment to innovative conservation programs and practices. One of the two organizations they honored was Metro CERT, a program of the Green Institute. Diana McKeown accepted the award on behalf of Metro CERT and the Green Institute.

Speakers at the event included Ben Fowke, President and COO, Xcel Energy; Judy Poferl, President and CEO, Northern States Power CO.-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy Company; Diana McKeown, Coordinator, Metro CERT and Green Institute; and Deborah Karasov, Executive Director, Great River Greening (the other organization receiving an award).

Diana spoke about the outstanding staff at Metro CERT and the Green Institute that make their programs possible and the exciting few years the organization has had, and then got into the finer details of Metro CERT and specific projects.

Diana told those gathered that Metro CERT started in 2007 at the request of the Minnesota Legislature, and serves an 11-county metro area, and that Metro CERT’s mission is to connect communities to resources to plan and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, with a strong focus on efficiency. Metro CERTs has affiliates in Mahtomedi, Minneapolis, Hastings, Shoreview, St. Paul, Oakdale, Edina, White Bear Lake and many more cities, representing neighborhoods, cities, congregations, and others.

Diana then detailed projects that Metro CERT and the Green Institute are currently working on, including:

• Nine seed grants totalling $40,000
• St. Paul home energy efficiency workshops funded by LCCMR and NEC, with Xcel’s support
• CERTified Campaigns with easily actionable projects and the current VendingMiser Bulk-Buy opportunity that just surpassed our goal of 200 units by May 1—now 500!
• Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon
• Minnesota GreenStep Cities

Diana finished her comments by highlighting some of the work Metro CERT and the Green Institute are partnering on with Xcel Energy. The two groups are excited to work together on sponsorships, community outreach, and other upcoming opportunities.

See photos and other materials from the event below.

Left: Diana speaks at the Xcel Energy event honoring earth-friendly nonprofits on Earth Day 2010
Right: Diana accepts award from Xcel Energy’s Ben Fowke, President and Chief Operating Officer

 
The official media advisory for the event: