Report on the CERTs Project - Phase Two

By Angela High-Pipper and Steven M. Hoffman, University of St. Thomas Department of Political Science. This document is the second phase of the 2007 project evaluation of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs). While the first phase of the report analyzed the results of an online survey of CERTs participants conducted in January 2007, this report is an analysis of focus group discussions with team members from each of the six regions (Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and West Central). These focus group discussions took place between December 2006 and June 2007, with Dr. Angela High-Pippert and Dr. Steven M. Hoffman serving as moderators of these discussions. CERTs staff made all other arrangements for the focus groups, including scheduling and recruiting of participants. Four main themes emerged across the focus group discussions: recruitment and outreach, distance and geography, staffing, and ﾓtalkﾔ vs. ﾓaction.ﾔ This report will discuss each in turn.