Clean Energy Resource Teams

The Third Clean Energy Resource Teams Conference

was held in St. Cloud on February 10-11, 2009

at the St. Cloud Civic Center

 
CERTs 2009: Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota’s Energy Future brought together 500 Minnesotans who are blazing the paths to a clean energy future by working on energy efficiency and clean energy projects in their communities, thus accelerating our learning process together.

This conference could not have come at a more important time. Our economy is hurting, energy prices are on the rise, and the impacts of global warming are becoming increasingly clear. Minnesotans of all stripes want to know what they can do. It just so happens that many of the solutions to our global climate challenge are also the ones that are going to help our economy and our communities thrive.

CERTs 2009 told participants, “You can be a part of Minnesota’s clean energy future, and you can get energy efficiency and clean energy projects on the ground in your community!” It’s true: Whether you’re a farmer, utility representative, school staff, local official, student, business owner—or member of any community—there is a role for you to play. Conference attendees learned what people are doing across the state, connected, and shared resources.

This year’s event started with optional In-Depth Workshops and an Evening Reception on February 10th followed by the Daylong Conference on the 11th. Wind, solar, biogas, efficient cooling, heating and lighting, and fuel-efficient cars were discussed. We heard from successful CERTs-supported projects, trailblazing green cities and schools, and learned the latest about green jobs, green manufacturing, and green investment & financing in Minnesota. Networking sessions allowed like-minded attendees to learn from one another, and a conference documentary and online discussion forum will allow us to harness our collective resources and share them beyond the event.

Contact & Media Kit
Press contact: Dan Thiede CERTs Conference & Communications Clean Energy Program Coordinator The Minnesota Project dthiede@mnproject.org 651-789-3326		Media Kit: Feb. 11 Press Release – web CERTs Logo – 1mb jpeg Conference Logo – 640kb jpeg CERTs Energy Future Image – 1.75mb jpeg 30 Sec. Promotional Audio – 465kb mp3 Download Full Media Kit – 3.4mb zip

CERTs Online Clean Energy Forums

 
In the weeks leading up to the 2009 CERTs Conference, we are excited to release the CERTs Clean Energy Forums, your place to connect, share, and collaborate online.

Creating an account takes only a couple minutes, and then you can join the conversations. As a new resource, it will take some time to build the Forums up, so please tell your colleagues and friends to log in and get involved, too. Log in regularly to see what’s new!

Click here to log in now!

Clean Energy Resource Teams Documentary Project

 
The Documentary: In partnership with St. Cloud State University, CERTs is in the process of creating a clean energy documentary to highlight this unique time in history through Minnesota voices. The story told in this video will be a clear message about the state of the economy, the environment and our communities, and how Minnesotans are working on clean energy solutions that will improve the well being of all three. The video will feature environmental and political leaders in Minnesota, community members from successful CERTs-supported projects, and the best speaker presentations and attendee interviews from the two-day 2009 CERTs Conference, as well as other tools to help you dig into energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

Be Part of the Story: The CERTs 2009 Conference is in the middle of this drama about communities who are Harnessing Resources & Teamwork for Minnesota’s Energy Future, and we gave participants the opportunity to be part of the story! We set up an interview booth where attendees shared why they are dedicated to the efficient use of clean energy, what projects they have done or plan to do in their communities, and how they are working together with others to achieve their goals. We got over two hours of interviews, and are excited to incorporate them into the documentary!

Conference Morning Plenary | Feb. 11, 2009

Minnesota State Representative Jeremy Kalin – Green Jobs: Where Clean Energy and Economic Recovery Converge
State Representative Jeremy Kalin has anything but a typical political background. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, with a ceramics emphasis. Before attending architecture school at the University of New Mexico, Kalin made his living selling his one-of-a-kind functional pottery and teaching high school and college. Most recently before serving in the Minnesota House, Rep. Kalin worked as a designer and draftsman for Natural Spaces Domes, a local, family-owned company specializing in energy-efficient geodesic dome homes. Kalin’s real world experience led to chief-authoring in his first term the nation’s strongest Energy Efficiency and Conservation standard – the cornerstone of the historic Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. For his work on the Energy Committee, Rep. Kalin was named a 2007 Legislative All Star by Fresh Energy Minnesota. Rep. Kalin serves as co-chair of the Green Jobs Task Force. He also serves on the Energy Finance and Policy, Local Government, Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections, and State Government Finance committees.

Randy Udall, Former director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) in western Colorado – America’s Energy Challenge: From Fossil Fuels to Energy Flows
Randy, former director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE), is one of the nation’s leading activists in promoting energy sustainability. CORE’s partnerships with electric utilities and local governments have led to remarkable accomplishments, including Colorado’s first solar energy incentive program, the world’s first Renewable Energy Mitigation Program which has raised $7 million, and some of the most progressive green power purchasing programs in the country. Udall is co-founder of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil-USA and has keynoted annual conferences for the Rocky Mountain Electric League, American Solar Energy Society, and American Wind Energy Association. In recent months he has addressed the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool, Colorado Rural Electric Association, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, Utah Association of Municipal Utilities, and the ASPO-USA Peak Oil Conference. He was also recently featured in a CNBC documentary The Hunt for Black Gold.

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Conference Luncheon Address | Feb. 11, 2009

Mary Hamann-Roland, Feb 11 Luncheon Speaker
Mary is the Mayor of the City of Apple Valley. Mary was elected to a four-term in 1998 and reelected in 2002 and 2006. In addition to serving as Mayor, she also served six years on the school board. Mayor Hamann-Roland is also involved in numerous national and state municipal organizations, multiple regional policy organizations, a variety of school-related committees, and many other civic committees. Mary has spent her civic career fostering partnerships among individuals, communities, and organizations. Among other successful collaborations, she was very instrumental in the creation of the nationally renowned School of Environmental Studies. Mayor Hamann-Roland also currently serves as President on the Board of Directors for the League of Minnesota Cities and President of the Minnesota Mayors Association.

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Legislative Forum | Feb. 11, 2009

Kerri Miller, Feb 11 Legislative Forum Moderator
Kerri joined Minnesota Public Radio in June 2004 as host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning and Talking Volumes, the joint book club of MPR, the Star Tribune and the Loft Literary Center. She has been a radio and television news reporter since 1981, serving as a political reporter for KARE-11 for several years. She has won numerous awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists National Achievement Award, Minnesota Broadcasters Award, the Associated Press Award and a Gracie award from the Association of Women in Radio and Television.

Senator Ellen Anderson, Feb 11 Legislative Forum Panelist
Senator Ellen Anderson was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1992 and serving her 5th term as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. She represents District 66, which includes the cities of St. Paul and Falcon Heights. Senator Anderson chairs the Senate Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Budget Division, and is a member of the Senate committees on K-12 and Early Education Finance; Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications; and Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee. She also is the co-chair of the newly formed Green Jobs Task Force. Some of her signature accomplishments include Minnesota’s minimum wage increase; the landmark 2007 Renewable Energy Standard (RES), said to be the strongest in the nation; the 2005 Community Based Energy Development law; the first law in the nation protecting nursing mothers in the workplace; equity stripping and mortgage foreclosure deferment legislation; and passing extended unemployment benefits during the 2001-2002 recession.

Representative Bill Hilty, Feb 11 Legislative Forum Panelist
Representative Hilty is serving his sixth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A DFLer from Finlayson, Hilty currently chairs the House Energy Policy and Finance Division. His other committee assignments include Finance; Ways and Means; Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections; State Government Finance Division; and Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division. For the past several years he has been the recognized caucus leader on elections issues, including elections equipment and the integrity of the voting process and the ballot, as well as voter’s rights.

Bill Glahn, Feb 11 Legislative Forum Panelist
In August 2008, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Bill Glahn as Director of the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and Deputy Commissioner of the state’s Department of Commerce. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Glahn was the principal and founder of Piedmont Consulting, an energy management consulting firm working on behalf of local governments, large energy users, universities and consumer advocates. Previously, Glahn served as Vice President and Controller of Avant Energy, the management firm for the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency.

Brian Elliot, Feb 11 Legislative Forum Panelist
Brian has served as District Director for Congressman Keith Ellison since the Congressman’s first swearing-in, January 2007. Brian is responsible for the Congressman’s Minnesota operations, including building and maintaining his staff, guiding the development of the schedule and constituent communications, performing outreach to a number of constituencies, and policy development in the areas of energy and environment. Prior to working with Congressman Ellison, Brian was the Minnesota Political Director and Associate National Political Director for Clean Water Action.

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CERTs 2009 Local Foods Story

 
Can’t remember where we got that pork or the blue cheese? Want to pick up your own vat of cinnamon ice cream? Check out this presentation to see who supported, grew, delivered, and prepared the fabulous meals and snacks at the CERTs 2009 Conference.

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