Community

Communities across Minnesota are recognizing the importance of adopting community-wide energy conservation and renewable energy programs. These programs can help manage energy costs, as well as reduce the production of emissions. A program designed by your community, specifically for your community’s needs, will receive wide support and provide benefits across all sectors, strengthening your local economy and creating jobs. You are the people you’ve been waiting for, so get started!

Our local government project planning resources might also prove helpful for your community.

Contents

Community Strategy
Organizations
Tools
CERTs Case Studies
CERTs Blog posts

Community Strategy

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The Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network – US EPA
The Network is an informational resource network that supports local governments’ efforts to use clean energy strategies to advance community priorities.

Smart Communities Network: Creating Energy Smart Communities – Nat’l Center for Appropriate Technology
Resources and information to help communities get started with energy planning and community-wide energy conservation. Focuses on energy conservation programs, benchmarking and reducing greenhouse gases, and community involvement in energy management. Includes studies of successful community projects.

Under Development: Helpful Tools and Techniques for Local Planning – Minnesota Planning
This report provides information on local planning and includes several sections on energy.

Guide to Developing a Community Energy Program – Rocky Mountain Institute
Provides a systematic approach to community involvement in building a sustainable energy future.

Clean Energy Projects You Can Do Now! – CERTs

Organizations

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Community Energy Association
This British Columbia-based organization provides information and tools for local governments to facilitate community energy planning. Includes background on basic concepts, outlines strategies, and demonstrates case studies.

Rural Minnesota Energy Board
RMEB is a Joint Powers of 17 counties in southern Minnesota; formed to provide policy guidance on issues surrounding energy development in rural Minnesota.

Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED)
C-BED works toward renewable energy development in a way that optimizes local economic development and environmental benefits.

Tools

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Step-by-Step Project Planning Guide – Northwest Community Energy
This guide runs the gambit of community energy project development: (1) Project scope & plan, (2) Typical project phases, (3) Cost management, (4) Risk management, (5) Procurement, and (6) Professional Assistance. They also have a nice primer on community energy for community groups.

Community Energy Planning Toolkit – Community Energy Association
Though this resource is focused on British Columbia, it provides many helpful models for practical community-based energy development.

Residential Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Incentives in Minnesota – Office of Energy Security
This one-page document is a handy overview of all incentives offered by the state of Minnesota for residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. It includes links to more information.

Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) fact sheet – CERTs

Duluth Green House Gas Inventory & Forecast Report – City of Duluth
Recommendations of Duluth’s Local Action Plan, October 2001. Details the Cities for Climate Protection program goal-setting and inventory process.

Community