Clean Energy Resource Teams

 
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 >>

 
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.

 
NW CERT is hiring a coordinator to help staff their region of Minnesota. The Coordinator will be instrumental in working with various organizations and individuals to move community-scale projects forward within the region by connecting people with the technical resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

The ideal candidate for this position will be someone with knowledge of clean energy practices, models and technologies and someone who is good at working with people. Travel is required to perform the responsibilities of this position; a personal vehicle is required, with reimbursement of travel to be made according to State policies.

Applications are due on January 20, 2009 at 4:30pm. An official release, as well as position general responsibilities, qualifications and additional information can be accessed at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/about/press/01/10/northwest-clea....

 
It has already been a cold winter, and we are just getting started! Before too much of that air you are heating sneaks out of your home, consider doing some work to tighten up your home and make it more efficient and comfortable this winter. In the end, your pocketbook will be thanking you!

To help you get the work done, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers three key home improvement loan options for Minnesota homeowners, all with a central focus on energy efficiency—but also including eligibility for solar and wind energy systems.

Read more to learn a little about each option, or click here to see all the details.

 
Global Warming Solutions Coordinator, Fresh Energy: Work with Fresh Energy’s innovative and aggressive Global Warming Solutions program. The program aims to advance global warming policy solutions by promoting smart state and national legislation to reduce global warming pollution, catalyzing innovative approaches to business and local government, and making the case to businesses, government, and citizens that global warming must be confronted now. The Coordinator will work with the Science Policy Director on specific outreach and analytical projects, and will have writing and public outreach responsibilities. The position includes extensive contact with collaborators and community members. Some travel and attending occasional weekend and evening meetings may be required.
Applications accepted until position is filled   |   Click to learn more and apply >>

Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Ramsey County: This is a one-year position that is funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) provided to Ramsey County by the Federal Government out of ARRA funds. It is possible that this position could continue beyond one year. The person in this position will work with Public Health and Property Management staff to help plan, organize, guide and coordinate the County’s efforts to create an internal County energy/sustainability plan, with an aim to implement sustainable and energy-related practices within the organization, including addressing current methods and practices that could be made more sustainable, researching new and emerging technology and sustainability practices, educating the organization regarding sustainable practices and developing and implementing sustainability goals and strategies. This is professional and administrative work to identify, develop, implement and coordinate innovative and effective programs to improve sustainability and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from County operations, and related duties as assigned.
Applications accepted until Friday, December 4th, 11:59pm   |   Click to learn more and apply >>

 
Hello CERT members and friends! Please check out our October 2009 Monthly Update for clean energy news and announcements from across Minnesota! Included in this update:

• Regional Highlights & Activities
• Link of the Month
• Action Alert
• Upcoming Events

 
NOVEMBER 9th, SLAYTON, MN — The Southwest and West Central Clean Energy Resource Teams seek temporary appointment of Southwest and West Central CERT Regional Coordinator(s).

The Coordinator will be instrumental in working with various organizations and individuals to move community-scale projects forward within the region by connecting people with the technical resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

Position will be paid by contract with CERTs $16.00 – $20.00 an hour for either a 40-hour/week appt or two 20 hours/ week appointments from December 2009 – June 2010 (no benefits) and with the potential for renewal through June 2011. Southwest and West Central CERT Coordinator(s) will be supervised by and report to the CERT Coordinator for the UM Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Position may office out of a home office or may be provided space with one or more of the Project Partners.

BA or BS, technical background in energy research and data analysis desired but not required. Travel is required to perform the responsibilities of this position, personal vehicle is required, reimbursement of travel will be made according to State policies.

Position general responsibilities, qualifications and additional information can be accessed at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org. Send resume to Annette Bair, Southwest Regional Development Commission and Southwest CERT coordinator by 11/20/09 4:30 pm at either phydev@swrdc.org or 2401 Broadway Ave, Slayton, MN 56172. Position to be filled by January 2010.

Download release & position description (Word) >>
Download release & position description (PDF) >>

Contact:
Annette Bair
SW Clean Energy Resource Team Coordinator
Physical Development Director
Southwest Regional Development Commission
2401 Broadway Ave
Slayton, MN 56172
Email: phydev@swrdc.org
Phone: 507.836.1631
Fax: 507.836.8866

 
The Office of Energy Security and CERTs are co-hosting this webinar to share information about three programs from the Office of Energy Security for local governments in Minnesota.

Join us on the web or in person on November 10 from 3:00-4:30pm

• Register now
• RSVP to attend a viewing near you

Agenda: Presenters from the Office of Energy Security (OES) will discuss upcoming stimulus programs that will be available to Minnesota local governments. The stimulus programs to be discussed include:

• Facility Cost-Share Program – The Facility Cost-share will be awarded through a competitive process to Minnesota school districts and local governments to make energy efficiency improvements to existing facilities. Initially, between $4 and $6 million will be available for cost-effective projects that are ready for immediate implementation. The Cost-share facilities grant will provide funds for up to 25% the cost of a facility improvement project with a maximum of $100,000 for each grant award. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/OES-FacilityCostShare

• Competitive Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program – The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) is a competitive grant to enhance energy efficiency, create jobs, and reduce fossil fuel emissions across Minnesota. The grants will be awarded to the most competitive cities and counties that were not eligible to apply directly to the U.S. DOE for formula grants. Approximately $6 million will be available to the top applicants. To ensure that EECBG funds are allocated statewide and competition is more equitable, there will be consideration of geographic location and population size. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/EECBG-competitive-grant-MN

 
SEPTEMBER 8th, SAINT PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) seek to provide limited financial assistance for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects requiring technical assistance.

Project funding can support technical assistance services (labor costs only, such as for a consultant, design professional, installer or student labor) for projects across the state in all seven Minnesota CERT regions: Central, Metro, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and West Central.

CERTs awarded seed grants to Minnesota projects in 2006, 2007, and 2008, funding nearly 80 projects during that time, and providing non-financial assistance to many more. Lists and maps of past CERTs-supported projects can be seen at http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/community-projects/certs-support....

“CERTs offers seed grants with two primary objectives in mind: to encourage implementation of community-based clean energy projects across the state, and to provide an educational forum for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and their economic, community and ecological benefits,” says Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs Statewide Coordinator.

Each region has a $40,000 pool of funding. Generally teams have funded projects in the $5,000 range, however should a larger project best help a team achieve its goals, that team may consider funding at a level up to $10,000. Each Regional Team’s Steering Committee will make its own selections and the funding level will vary by region. Projects approved for funding must be completed by December 30th, 2010.

Funding for these projects is provided through the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security. Proposals must be submitted no later than November 2nd, 2009 at 4:30pm.

To learn more, visit www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/community-projects/request-for-proposals.

Click here to download a press release >>