CERTs 2009 will take place on February 10-11, 2009 in St. Cloud, MN. The event will kick off on the 10th with In-Depth Workshops and an evening reception, where we'll host the Clean + Green Film Festival.
In-Depth Energy Workshops
Community-Based Energy Development
During this workshop you will learn the basics of Community-Based Energy Development, the steps for putting together a community wind project, business models for wind development featuring a panel of developers. You will also dig into the economic feasibility of wind, as well as policies and incentives in Minnesota that support community-based energy development.
Accelerating Residential Efficiency
The residential sector is one of the largest energy consumers in Minnesota, and therefore holds great potential for energy efficiency. Find out how utilities, non-profits, and community groups are working to accelerate programs and learning to help residents conserve.
Saving Energy is Smart Business
Learn how your business can save money by taking advantage of existing Conservation Improvement Programs (CIP) offered by Minnesota’s energy utilities. Business executives will also share their stories of implementing energy efficiency upgrades, receiving rebates through the CIP process and realizing substantial dollar savings on monthly electric bills.
Creating a Clean Energy School
There are schools across the state, at all levels, that are working to save energy and produce clean energy, issues that are especially important with our current climate crisis and fuel costs. In this workshop we will learn from schools who are working on innovative projects, with major results. We will break into small groups to find out what administrators, operators, teachers, and students can do to be a part of the action. Finally, we will provide schools with a chance to connect with service-providers that can help them plan and implement their projects.
Best Practices for Local Governments
Local government leaders at the city and county level will share step-by-step the trailblazing initiatives that they are undertaking to determine their clean energy future, leading us toward a discussion of best practices for local governments working on clean energy.
Networking for Clean Energy
Everyone has heard terms like "online community" and knows the basics of "networking," but how can we as communities use web-based tools for effective collaboration and information-sharing? This workshop will include case studies, review of available tools, technology primers, and best practices.
For more information about the Daylong Conference
or In-Depth Workshops, please call Luke Ekelund at
651-789-3321 or e-mail lekelund@mnproject.org.
Register Now: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org
Randy Udall, 
.gif)
.gif){kind=small}
Students: We want to help you connect with students across the state and give you free technical and financial resources to help you reduce energy use at your schools during the next three years. There are funds available now to help you get started, and during the second year of the initiative, school teams will be eligible for grants of up to $20,000 for innovative carbon-cutting projects. 
In The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, acclaimed activist and environmental leader Van Jones tackles the challenges of oil dependence, a sagging economy, and global warming itself, transforming these looming threats into enormous financial opportunities.
In April 2008, the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (
