News

We are excited to announce that 2023 is the Clean Energy Resource Teams' (CERTs) 20th Anniversary! We hope you will join us as we make plans to celebrate our CERTsiversary all year long!

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting applications from organizations interested in hosting a Minnesota GreenCorps member for the 2023-2024 program year. Applications due March 14, 2023.

Minnesota Power's Low Income Solar grant program is accepting applications through March 15, 2023.

The Solar for Schools grant program for schools outside of Xcel Energy territory is open for round two.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams and our partner, the Great Plains Institute (GPI), are excited to welcome Lindsay Stauner to our team as the program associate for the Communities Team at GPI.

This voluntary recognition program is designed to provide communities with a roadmap to EV readiness and help them achieve their EV-readiness goals with technical assistance. 

Environmental Initiative is accepting nominations for the 2023 award program through February 13, 2023.

Xcel Energy Partners in Energy provides communities services to develop an energy plan and assistance with implementing that plan. Each community has its own unique energy needs and priorities, and Partners in Energy tailors its services to complement each community’s vision.

MnTAP staff members are seeking partners to develop facility projects for interns. 

We're sending our best to Chris Meyer as she steps away from her role as SE CERT Coordinator after years of instrumental work in the region and in the partnership as a whole. 

After several years of work with Great Plains Institute's Communities Program and a dedicated member of the Metro CERT team, we bid farewell and best wishes to Kris Acuña as he steps into a new role.

Minnesota is the regional leader in the Midwest and #10 overall for the 2022 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. 

To increase the ease of use of electric vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state, the MPCA has $664,000 available to install Level 2 EV charging stations in public places, workplaces, and multiunit dwellings. 

The U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Map includes active manufacturing sites that contribute to the solar photovoltaic supply chain, including sites in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency offers a new online training to help small businesses adapt to environmental challenges and find cost savings.

Regional Indicators Initiative updated their analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota cities based on community-wide data collection and analysis. See what's new!

Watch Lissa Pawlisch and Peter Lindstrom's presentation to the Southcentral Minnesota Clean Energy Council on clean energy incentives within the Inflation Reduction Act.

With a mix of federal funding and tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act includes a new mechanism called elective or direct pay for tax-exempt entities.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes money saving opportunities for residents through tax credits and rebates, often based on area median income. But what is area median income, and how can you calculate yours? Let us explain. 

CERTs partnered with AmeriCorps’ Climate Impact Corps to offer new opportunities to serve throughout Minnesota. We're thrilled to welcome the six Sustainability Project Coordinators who will support community-driven projects, build local partnerships, encourage local environmental action, and provide education to help households decrease energy costs across our state.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes money saving opportunities for residents through tax credits and rebates. But what's the difference between the two? Let us explain. 

Minnesota’s plan to address and prepare for climate change.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has $350,000 available to support climate-planning projects in communities with populations of less than 10,000. 

To increase the number of school districts and other eligible entities able to purchase a new electric bus, MPCA will provide match funding for grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. 

Congratulations to Faribault, Kasson, and La Crescent, cities in the Southeast CERT region which advanced in the GreenStep Cities program to steps 2, 3, and 4 respectively in 2022. A welcome to New Prague who joined the program this year and kudos to the cities of Northfield, Red Wing, and Rochester for maintaining their status in steps 4 and 5.