Clean Energy Resource Teams

 
WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy announced today the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Strengthening energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and protect the environment at the same time.

“In the clean energy future, energy efficiency is action number one. We can cut greenhouse gases and protect our environment while we save money for homeowners, schools and businesses,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “With strong federal support, our state partners can realize these benefits even faster than expected and move aggressively into a clean, affordable energy future.”

 
5 Unique Ways to Go Green if You’re Living in a Dorm by Zach Miners in U.S. News and World Report features St.Olaf College.

Opening paragraph: College is often termed the best years of your life. Now, recent trends suggest that it is also becoming pretty green. A growing number of colleges and universities are seeking ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, many with energy-efficient facilities and construction projects. A wind turbine at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, for example, provides 33 percent of campus electricity and saves more than $250,000 annually in utility costs. Richard Stockton College in New Jersey is heated and cooled using one of the country’s largest closed-loop geothermal systems, and students living in a new green-themed dorm at Dartmouth College use, on average, about 60 percent less energy than other students on campus. Plans for the dorm, named the Sustainable Living Center, call for it to be a waste-free, energy-neutral student residence.

Read the full article >>

 
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is seeking up to three communities who want to learn how to capitalize on the assets of renewable energy to increase their local economies. As part of the grant, SMIF will provide up to $15,000 for community projects along with training and coaching.

SMIF’s grant uses an asset-affirming approach, called the Community Growth Initiative, which puts a strong spotlight on collaboration, local assets, and creativity that generates long-term change.

“Through our Community Growth Initiative, we encourage communities and organizations to draw on their own assets to create change rather than looking to ‘outside xperts’ for answers and assistance,” states Tim Penny, SMIF President & CEO.

Many communities in southern Minnesota are hoping to develop alternative energy sources and the jobs that go along with them. Several communities hosted wind energy forums during the past year in an effort to leverage local opportunities. This new grant partnership will capitalize on that interest and assist communities in growing economic partnerships related to renewable energy of all kinds.

Currently 25 communities within southern Minnesota are partners in this process. These communities are identifying and achieving goals,learning about and leveraging their assets, developing volunteer leaders, and increasing citizen involvement.

Interested communities should send a completed “Renewable Energy Entrepreneurism-Community Growth Initiative” application by February 19, 2010 to Elise Davis at 507-455-3215.

Application and guideline information is available at http://www.smifoundation.org.

 
Over 1,000 people are already signed up to attend the Greentech Media sponsored Webinar on U.S. PV manufacturing being held this Wednesday, January 27.

Spire Corporation, a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey production lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, believes that the PV industry is poised for a new phase of growth driven by low-cost silicon and worldwide initiatives. Reductions in the price of silicon is driving the market growth by providing cost-effective, high-efficiency, reliable modules with the demonstrated lifetime required for the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market. The most cost-efficient way to penetrate these growing world markets is through distributed crystalline silicon module manufacturing.

This presentation will address:

• Effect of stimulus funding and state initiatives on the U.S. market.
• Filling the gap between the projected U.S. market and the U.S. manufacturing capacity through distributed module manufacturing.
• Advantages of crystalline silicon distributed module assembly.
• Cost considerations for module assembly from solar cells.
• Crystalline silicon demonstrated specifications for the PPA market.
• Opportunities for worldwide growth through the distributed module assembly model.

The free webinar will be hosted by Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, and is sponsored by Greentech Media.

Click here to register now >>

 
The Office of Energy Security, Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Community Action Partnerships received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy last week recognizing them for putting stimulus dollars for Minnesota’s weatherization program to good work.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included $132 million in weatherization assistance funds. The state Legislature has also appropriated nearly $16 million for the current fiscal year.

So far, nearly 1,400 homes have been weatherized in Minnesota using the federal stimulus funds, and another 2,300 homes are expected to be weatherized with the funds.

Source: Minnesota Public Radio

 
Retailers and interested members of the public should join the Minnesota Office of Energy Security for a webinar on January 15th from 11am-12pm to review the upcoming appliance rebate program that will be specific to Minnesota residents.

The webinar agenda is as follows:
    1. Program Overview
    2. Program Eligibility & Requirements
    3. Program Delivery & Online Experience
    4. Eligible Products
    5. Retailer Responsibilities

Space is limited, so click here to reserve your webinar seat now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements for PC-based attendees: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

System Requirements for Macintosh®-based attendees: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
 
 

 
As we kick off 2010, we are excited to announce the projects awarded CERTs seed grants in each of the seven Minnesota CERTs regions. These catalyzing grants of up to $11,000 will help projects garner further funding and bring communities together in identifying and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Read on for all of the details!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. If you want to learn more about past projects, are interested in our proposal process, or want to prepare for future funding, visit our Request for Proposals page.

Jump to Region: Central | Metro | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West Central

 
The federal stimulus bill gave money to state governments earmarked for energy-savings initiatives. Minnesota is using $4.1 million of its federal funding to provide grants to commercial, industrial and nonprofit property owners planning to make substantial energy-efficiency and/or renewable-energy improvements in 2010 and 2011. Some of the money will be given directly to property owners making energy improvements and some will go to 501©3 nonprofits and economic development organizations seeking to create their own grant funds. The due date is February 12, 2010 by 4pm. See this summary from Energy Smart for more info or go directly to Office of Energy Security RFP details.

 
As big storms and frigid temperature descend on the Twin Cities, some lucky homeowners are getting expert help battening down the hatches and lowering their utility bills. The bonus? It’s costing them peanuts.

Image by David Joles, Star Tribune

Two Twin Cities nonprofits are making homes more energy-efficient. The cost to homeowners: $30 each. Their utility-bill savings average $127 a year. The Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE) in Minneapolis and Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC) in St. Paul, both nonprofits dedicated to energy efficiency, began pilot programs in the fall in select neighborhoods. Metro CERT is supporting organizing efforts in St. Paul.

Read full stories at Star Tribune and Twin Cities Daily Planet.