CERTs Monthly Update - August 2009
Hello CERT members and friends, and welcome to the August 2009 edition of our Monthly Update!
We would like to thank our citizen-led steering committee members across the state for their time and effort this month crafting our CERTs seed grant request for proposals (RFP), planning future tours and clean energy forums in their regions, and supplying feedback and leadership around CERTs programs and projects.
This tractor in the Northwest CERT Region has run over 350 hours on SVO (straight vegetable oil). From left to right: Paul Aakre (UMC professor), Tom Haarstick (UMC student) and Dave Volker (operator).
Regional Highlights & Activities
Statewide
CERTs Seed Grants Available for Community Clean Energy Projects! 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. Click here to learn more and apply >>
August Update on Minnesota Federal Stimulus Programs: This is the official update from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security with August News and July Updates. Click here to read the update >>
MRES Solar Flare: For all you solar enthusiasts, the Solar Flare put out by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society is a GREAT resource. Check it out at http://www.mnrenewables.org/newsletter.
SEE Awards: Congratulations to the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) 2009 Energy Milestone Winners! Click here to see them all >>
Automated Logic Wins Award: Congratulations to Automated Logic for their Environmental Index (EI) being awarded the Bronze Product of the Year in a competition showcasing practical innovation conducted by the Consulting Specifying Engineer magazine (CSE). Automated Logic’s Environmental Index gives facility managers a method for determining both the energy efficiency and occupant comfort level within a building via a color-coded dial. For more information about Automated Logic, please call 651-697-7202 or visit http://www.alctwincities.com.
Project Green Fleet receives EPA grant: The nonprofit Minnesota Environmental Initiative received a $3 million grant today to reduce diesel emissions in school buses and other heavy-duty diesel vehicles. The EPA grant will fund Project Green Fleet, a voluntary partnership between state private and public sectors that aims to reduce air pollution. The funds will be issued to retrofit school buses and other vehicles with pollution control equipment, and provide engine repowers, vehicle replacements and idle reduction technologies. Read the full article at MPR >>
Great Plains Institute on PRI’s The World : Minneapolis-based Great Plains Institute’s Brad Crabtree appeared on the Public Radio International program, The World, at 7pm on Aug 12th on National Public Radio to talk about the highly successful International Climate Change Solutions Conference organized by the Prairie Stewardship Network and GPI. Congrats!
Web-based Guide to Tribal Energy Development: Click here to check it out >>
ENERGY STAR: How do I apply for the energy efficiency tax credits? Click here to learn the answer >>
CERTs Testimonials: Read what individuals in Minnesota have to say about the Clean Energy Resource Teams, and submit your own CERTs testimonial! Visit testimonials >>
Central Region
Citizen Energy Forums Presentations: CERTs steering committee members Linda Ulland and Rin Porter presented about community-led projects and opportunities at Citizen Energy Forums coordinated by State Representative Brita Sailer in Park Rapids on August 20th and 21st. The events also featured staff form the Office of Energy Security summarizing various energy incentives in the recent stimulus package, as well as members of the local utilities and Community Action weatherization programs talking about ways citizens can save electricity and reduce energy costs.
Federal Grant Helps Bring Solar Heat to Ojibwe: Leech Lake Indian Reservation—The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is putting some cutting-edge solar technology on the homes of low-income tribal members. With help from a federal grant, the tribe is installing solar air heating systems in eight low-income homes. For participating households, it’s going to mean significantly lower heating costs this winter. Read the full article at MPR >>
Metro Region
Municipal Wind Power: Last month we told you about the two utility-scale wind turbines being erected by Willmar Municipal Utility that account for 3% of the city’s electric needs, and this month we want to draw you attention to Chaska and the Hometown Wind Power program created by the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA). Read this article from Windustry’s newsletter to learn more >>
Metro CERTs Community Organizer Hire: We welcomed our second new organizer, Carl Samuelson on August, 31, 2009. He will be focused on a home energy program in St. Paul and is hired through a contract with Center for Energy and Environment as part of their LCCMR grant. Click here to learn more about recent hires >>
Energy Workshops:
- On August 13th Nancy Kelly presented on behalf of the Green Institute Community Energy programs at a business workshop sponsored by the Lake Street Council on Best Practices for Waste Reduction and Energy Efficiency. The workshop featured presentations by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Smart program, Eureka Recycling, Center Point and Xcel Energy.
- On August 25th the Green Institute, along with the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative are hosting a free energy and water conservation workshop to educate attendees about low-cost and no-cost actions they can take to save money on energy bills and preserve the environment. The workshop featured presentations by Vicki Carey, City of Minneapolis Permit Compliance Officer and Veteran Energy Auditor and Diana McKeown.
Growing Power & Will Allen: Diana and Julia attended a workshop and reception on August 19 at Little Earth of United Tribes with sustainable agriculture guru Will Allen of the organization Growing Power in Milwaukee. The event was sponsored by the Women’s Environmental Institute, as a kick-off for their Urban Farm Project at Little Earth, which hopes to start a composting facility and eventually an urban agriculture site at the housing project. Allen gave a hands-on demonstration on the basics of composting and vermiculture, where worms are used to help break down food waste. Participants learned not only about creating compost but also about Allen’s campaign to build a “good food revolution” to make good, healthy food available and accessible to all communities. At his farm in Milwaukee Allen also has a demonstration anaerobic digester, a technology which several metro communities are researching as a viable option to generate biogas.
Mechanic’s Electric Truck Gets State Fair Debut Stewart Roberts, who owns The Foreign Service repair shop in Roseville, displayed a black 2003 Ford Ranger at the fairgrounds that he’s converted to 100 percent electric power. The truck sports a new wax job and a bunch of slogans painted on the shiny surface, such as “100-percent electric vehicle conversion” and “40-miles per charge,” a rough approximation of how far you can travel on a charge. Read the article at MPR >>
Northeast Region
AURI Releases Aitkin County Biomass Assessment: The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), in conjunction with the Center for Producer Owned Energy, Aitkin County Land Development, and the Aitkin County Economic Development/Forest Industry Coordinator, is exploring the opportunity to utilize biomass resources available in Aitkin County to generate renewable energy. The development of a biomass to bioenergy production system will drive economic and create jobs in the area. Click here to download the report >>
Pyramid of Conservation: Minnesota Power has an Energy Hierarchy that they call their pyramid of conservation. The base of the pyramid is understanding. As you rise up, the complexity and investment increases – and it will help you to prioritize what action steps are right for you. Click here to check it out >>
Sale of Duluth Steam Plant Approved: Minnesota Power’s petition to purchase steam boilers and wood handling facilities from the city of Duluth to expand biomass energy production won approval today from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Click here to read the full article from Business North >>
Northwest Region
Citizen Energy Forums Presentation: CERTs staff Joel Haskard presented about community-led projects and opportunities at Citizen Energy Forums coordinated by State Representative Brita Sailer in Blackduck and Bagley on August 19th. The event also featured staff form the Office of Energy Security summarizing various energy incentives in the recent stimulus package, as well as members of the local utilities and Community Action weatherization programs talking about ways citizens can save electricity and reduce energy costs.
New Website for County Energy Use Reduction: CERTs wants to draw attention to the new webpage created by the West Central Initiative to help the counties they serve better understand their energy usage and the renewable energy potential. Click here to check it out >>
Southeast Region
U.S. energy secretary in Rochester, talking renewables: The nation’s energy secretary used a union hall in Rochester this Monday to continue his push for renewable energy. The nation’s energy secretary used a union hall in Rochester this Monday to continue his push for renewable energy. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu watched a group of union electrical workers train on scaffolding – to mimic work they’d do inside a towering wind turbine. Chu said re-defining work like this could actually help make the nation a leader again by teaching new skills for new industries. Click here to read the full article at MPR >>
SMMPA a Major Wind Energy Supplyer: A special shout out to South Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) for supplying the 5th largest amount of wind power of all municipally-owned utilities in the nation according to the American Wind Energy Association’s Annual Wind Industry Report for the year ending 2008.
SE Businesses Win Energy Awards: In the better-late-than-never file, we want to congratulate to SE Minnesota businesses, MGM Liquor Warehouse in St. Peter and Geotek in Stewartville, for winning the Energy Smart Leaders awards in April from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Congrats, guys, and better late than never! Click here to learn more about the awards >>
Southwest Region
Minnesota West launches energy tech degree program: Click here to learn more about it >>
Dan Juhl featured: There is a great feature article about Dan Juhl in the recent Minnesota Business Magazine. Click here to read the article >>
West Central Region
Little Rock Wind Acquisition: From West Central Tribune: Little Rock Wind LLC, along with its managing partner National Wind LLC of Minneapolis, announce the acquisition of assets from community owned wind project Big Stone Wind. Little Rock Wind is a community wind energy company formed by National Wind and nine local landowners and business people. Brent Olson is a board member of both Big Stone Wind and Little Rock Wind’s project companies: “This transaction will assure the community wind development efforts we initiated will continue forward under Little Rock Wind’s community.”
Link of the Month
Minnesota Power’s Pyramid of Conservation
Minnesota Power has developed a fantastic Pyramid of Conservation to help us all think about how we can save energy, and where to start.
The choice to be more energy efficient may be clear, but the starting point can be more difficult to determine. The Pyramid of Conservation is designed to help you prioritize steps and develop an action plan that’s right for you. By establishing a foundation in energy efficiency and gaining a better understanding about how you use energy, you can more effectively work your way up the pyramid.
Click here to explore the pyramid >>
Action Alert
CERTs Seed Grants Available for Community Clean Energy Projects!
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-supported.
“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.
Clean Energy Resource Teams