CERTs Monthly Update - June/July 2009
Hello CERT members and friends, and welcome to the June/July 2009 edition of our Monthly Update!
We apologize for the brief Monthly Update hiatus! This update includes resources and regional news from June and July of 2009. Be sure to check out the links of the month and action alert! Please let us know whenever you have items you would like to have included in the update—they can be sent to Joel Haskard at haska004@umn.edu.
Regional Highlights & Activities
Statewide
July Update on Minnesota Federal Stimulus Programs: This is the official update from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security with July News and June Updates. Click here to read the update >>
US Treasury Now Accepting Applications for Renewable Energy Facilities: The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy announced they are now accepting applications for a program that will make direct payments in lieu of tax credits to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities. Eligible property under this program includes only property used in a trade or business or held for the production of income. Non-business energy property does not qualify for payments under this program but may qualify for federal tax credits. By receiving payments for property, applicants are electing to forego tax credits with respect to such property for the taxable year in which the payment is made or any subsequent taxable year. Click here for more information >>.
Solar Electric and Solar Thermal Rebates: The state of Minnesota appropriated $3.4 million in funding for solar rebate programs this past legislative session. As noted in our update from May 29, 2009, these solar programs are contingent upon receiving U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approval since the bulk of funding comes from federal stimulus funding. The DOE has approved the plan subject to National Environmental Policy Act review. We are working with DOE to reach agreement about how to satisfy with this requirement in a way that allows consumers to move forward quickly with their project plans.
- Solar Electric Rebate Program update: Of the $3.4 million available for solar programs, $400,000 is tentatively scheduled to be available July 10, 2009 for the Minnesota Solar Electric Rebate Program. We can release these funds because the source is the Xcel Renewable Development, a state source of funding not subject to federal approval. Click here to see program guidelines and requirements >>
- Solar Hot Water Program update: This program is funded entirely through the federal stimulus funds and therefore subject to NEPA requirements. We are working with DOE to find a solution that will satisfy both federal requirements while meeting the needs of solar consumers. We will notify the people on this list when the program opens. Click here to see requirements and guidelines >>
- Solar Air Heat Program update: This program is funded entirely through the federal stimulus funds and there fore subject to NEPA requirements. We are working with DOE to find a solution that will satisfy both federal requirements and meet the needs of solar consumers. Program guidelines are in development. We will notify the people on this list when the program opens.
- Questions about these solar rebate programs? Contact Stacy Miller at the Minnesota Office of Energy Security at stacy.miller@state.mn.us.
Wind turbines could earn millions for trust that benefits K-12 education: For more than a century, Minnesota has been earning money by selling timber and minerals found on the state’s school trust lands. Now, state officials plan to use the land for a new form of revenue: wind energy. In the 2009 session, state lawmakers approved a bill that allows the state to lease school trust land near Biwabik on the Iron Range for as many as four wind turbines. Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority could install the turbines by Aug. 30. Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-North St. Paul, the chairman of an advisory committee that monitors the school trust lands, said wind energy and new types of mining, such as nonferrous techniques, could bring in millions to the trust that benefits Minnesota’s K-12 education. “We’re looking at capturing revenue that is derived from those projects that will benefit schools.” Wiger said. The DNR is in the process of negotiating the terms of the lease for the wind turbines. The details include a $5 per acre annual rental fee. There’s also a $2,000 per megawatt, per turbine annual fee. For example, a property with eight turbines that generates 2.5 megawatts a year would produce $40,000 for the school fund. By Charley Shaw, Staff Writer for Legal Ledger.
Green By Design Presentations & Resources: The Minnesota Green by Design conference was held on June 10-11, 2009. Presentations from the event are now available—“Click here to explore.”:http://www.mngreencommunities.org/gbd/2009/agenda.htm. Also, you may be interested in some of the publications available at the Minnesota Green Communities website, www.mngreencommunities.org..
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
RREAL Wins Social Entrepreneur’s Cup: The Social Entrepreneur’s Cup is a competition to find Minnesota’s most innovative and effective social entrepreneurs. RREAL was one of four finalists to compete as part of the Engaged Philanthropy Conference. The Social Entrepreneur’s Cup was created to seek out, celebrate, and promote Minnesota’s most innovative and effective social entrepreneurs and their solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. As winner of the competition, RREAL will receive $20,000 as a general operating grant and 40 hours of consulting services Social Venture Partners. Congratulations RREAL! Click here to learn more >>
Metro Region
Metro CERT July Newsletter: Metro CERT sends out a quarterly newsletter. Click here to read >>
Green Institute Sells Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center: Ownership of the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center (PEEC), one of the state’s first green building’s was officially transferred to the Greenway Office LLC, an affiliate of Wellington Management, Inc. on June 1, 2009. “It was a bittersweet day for The Green Institute. The ability to pay off our historic debt allows us to better focus the time and attention of our board and staff on our mission and programs. We thank our partners at the City and all of our creditors for their patience as we have worked through these difficult times,” said Jamie Heipel, Executive Director of The Green Institute. “Some of our programs, such as Community Energy, have been growing in the past year,” reflected Diana McKeown, Program Coordinator for Metro CERT. Heipel continued, “We look forward to building on fifteen years of work within the community through job creation, waste reduction and clean energy solutions.”
Metro CERT Hires New Community Organizer: After working with a pool of almost 100 applicants, Julia Eagles (formerly with PCEC) was hired as the Metro CERT Community Organizer, and will officially start work August 11, 2009. Her position is funded through a Bush Foundation grant. All congratulations can be sent to julia.eagles@gmail.com. A second organizer focused on the Energy Efficient Cities program in St. Paul area was also hired through an LCCMR grant and will start work August 31, 2009.
CHEEP (Como-Park Home Energy Efficiency Program): The Como Park Community (District 10 Council), in cooperation with Metro CERT, kicked off the Como-Park Home Energy Efficiency Program at the end of May. Fifteen homes in the neighborhood are participating in a pilot program that educates community members about energy conservation and aids in implementation of home energy changes. The goal is to lower energy usage and increase efficiency throughout the neighborhood. All participants have attended an introductory home-energy workshop at the house of Betti Iwanksi, engineering volunteer from the Energy Conservatory. The data from the project will be recorded for hopeful future replication. A follow-up workshop to the initial intro to energy efficiency workshops (held in May/June) was held at CHEEP leader/volunteer Betti Iwanski’s house Tuesday night, July 14. The focus was electrical use reduction. A goal of a group-wide 10-20% reduction was established, and Como is aiming to become the most energy-efficient neighborhood in St. Paul. McKynlee Westman, Diana’s Metro CERTs summer intern, was in charge of contacting all participants to gain feedback about the initial workshops, organized and set the date for the follow-up meeting, and assisted in running the demonstrations, data-sharing and conversation of the workshops. To learn more about the District 10 Council, visit their webpage at http://www.comopark.org. And if you’d like to hear more about the pilot program, contact Betti Iwanski at biwanski@comcast.net or Jess Roberts at jproberts89@hotmail.com.
CS Career Day: Eleven local teens from the YouthCare group attended Green Career Day on July 22nd at The Green Institute from 9:00AM to noon, organized by intern McKynlee Westman. Career descriptions were given by professionals Diana McKeown, Brad Krause and Barbara Parks, and supplementary education was run by McKynlee Westman.
Metro Presentations: The Metro CERTs staff presented at a number of fora this month including General Mills, Midwest Building Ecology Coalition, NorthMarq and a presentation to a school parent group at Senator Ellen Anderson’s home.
Metro CERT Steering committee meeting: On July 14th the Metro CERT steering committee met and discussed the FY 2010 workplan, and guidance going forward. We also gave updates about current projects that we are working on, talked a bit about seed grant funding and asked some key questions about Metro CERT as we continue to refine our structure to be most effective and efficient to accomplish our goals.
Northeast Region
NE CERT Meeting in Grand Marais: At the NE CERT meeting July 21st, over 30 people met in Grand Marais to learn about all of the exciting clean energy efforts underway in this North Shore community. Projects included the Cook County Local Energy Project, the North House Folk School, the Whole Food Co-op, and a Rural Renewable Energy Alliance home installation.
McQuade boat landing gets solar power: A boat landing near Duluth is now being powered by the sun. Crews bolted solar panels on an I-beam at the McQuade Road safe harbor to feed electricity into the Minnesota Power grid. The idea is for the solar panels to generate enough electricity to offset the energy used to power the restrooms and the parking lot lights. The new landing on Lake Superior is the first place the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has carried out a major solar power effort. The DNR plans to add solar panels to an off-highway vehicle park in Gilbert, and to several North Shore state park campgrounds. After a discount from the project’s contractor, the solar panels at McQuade cost the DNR about $28,000. Read the full article from the Duluth Tribune on our blog >>
Duluth requests proposals for energy efficiency: The City of Duluth, Community Development Division has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Implement the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP). From the request: “We are seeking an organization to work with the Advisory Committee to further develop and implement the DEEP. The program shall contain: 1) provision of basic residential energy conservation measures; 2) provision of more comprehensive residential energy conservations measures; 3) a plan to establish a revolving loan fund to be sustainable over time and 4) innovative financing options allowing residents to finance energy efficiency improvements, at least in part, with energy savings. The program will include a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) of at least $1.5 million in size for energy improvements that will require at least a $1 to $4 match of other resources to achieve energy savings in homes within the City of Duluth.” For information contact Keith Hamre, Manager, Duluth Community Development at 218-730-5480.
Duluth mayor joins door knockers launching energy-efficiency campaign: Duluth Mayor Don Ness will lead a team of summer volunteers today knocking on doors to kick-off a new energy awareness program for city residents. Duluth Mayor Don Ness will lead a team of summer volunteers today knocking on doors to kick-off a new energy awareness program for city residents. Today is the first day of the Green Duluth Team door-to-door campaign sponsored by Duluth Youth Employment Service and Community Action Duluth. The volunteers will offer residents information on how to save money by making their home more energy-efficient and by making a few easy, inexpensive lifestyle changes. The information also will include how to apply for programs, tax incentives and available rebates. Homeowners also will be offered an “Energy Yardstick Rating” to see how well their homes perform compared to their neighbors. The Green Duluth Team volunteers will spend four days each week doing the resident energy outreach but will spend one day per week doing other community service, maintaining the Superior Hiking Trail, weeding saplings planted along Miller Creek, stenciling storm drains to discourage dumping, building a composting project at WLSSD and creating water gardens to capture runoff to prevent erosion and pollution from reaching the lake. Read the full article in the Duluth Tribune >>
Update from Northeast CERT organizer Bill Mittlefehldt:
- The NE CERT network has demonstrated a number of new initiatives: Silver Bay’s team focused on the “Eco-Industrial Park” has earned a $40,000 grant from the MPCA. This will help them extend their design and feasibility work. The City Council of Ely has moved a step closer to developing a biomass CHP installation thanks to the guidance of the Energy Efficient Ely team, a subset of the Chamber. Itasca State Park at the Headwaters of the Mississippi River is considering an energy exhibit at their Interpretive Center. The City of Duluth received a stimulus award through the MN legislature for doing $1.5 million in home weatherization work. And Grand Marais has brought together Cook County, the City and the School Board in a collaboration for a new design for biomass cogeneration heat & power (CHP) project. And the new Principal of Cook County High School, Gwen Carman was excited that CCHS has become a partner in the Schools Cutting Carbon program.
- In addition to sustaining the buzz of learning and collaborating, NE CERTs activities included growing the business partners who are engaged in the cultural transition. This month relationships were built with LHB, MN Power, GPM, Clean Energy By Design, RREAL and the Hunt Utility Group. These are a few of the leading commercial enterprises that hope to share their leadership in developing markets that reward conservation, efficiency and local energies.
- There are no stories without media. So NE CERTs has continued to explore the application of new media to capturing and re-telling some of the exiting stories of transition. The CERTs team has been working on a video-short which should run in July from the website. It tells a great story of leadership, collaboration and impressive numbers for an area business using solar thermal to reduce propane costs. Another team is working on the Twin Ports Interfaith Initiative on Global Warming DVD. This will be a 30 minute story of how the region’s faith community has begun to organize for a measured and faithful response to the unprecedented challenges of climate and energy. And discussions have begun with Itasca State Park and UMD regarding how best to capture stories of the region’s transition to a clean energy and high-efficiency future.
Northwest Region
Renewable Energy Assessment & Feasibility Tool: This tool by AURI can be used as a first step for identifying renewable energy opportunities and assisting with developing a preliminary feasibility assessment for identified renewable energy ventures. If you have any questions please contact Randy Hilliard, AURI Project Development Director by email at rhilliar@auri.org or phone at 218-281-9006 (Direct), 218-280-8573 (Cell). CERTs is currently partnering with the Northwest Regional Development Commission, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, West Central Initiative Foundation, and Region 5 Regional Development Commission to provide funding support for 18 northwestern counties to populate these templates with information and then to share the findings with county developers and entrepreneurs.
Click here to check out the tool >>
Southeast Region
SE CERT Tour in Winona: At the SE CERT meeting July 21, 15 people gathered at Winona High School to network and learn more about the Winona community-based wind development, the high school solar project, Sustain Winona’s ISO 14001, Winona State University’s Energy Resource Advisor program, and finally, a tour of the Kreidermacher Pork & Plants facility that is growning perrinial plants to pelletize and use as a heat source for their green houses, barn and residence. Pictures from the CERT Tour can be found here. To learn more, read an MPR article on Pork and Plants >>.
Solar for Homeowners Workshop a Success: The “Solar for Homeowners” workshop held in Winona on the evening July 22, 2009 was deemed an overwhelimg success, with seventy-five people in attendance. Organized by the Winona County EDA (Economic Development Authority), the event included presentations by installers, code enforcers, and homeowners with years of experience with solar applications. Arguably the most important presentation of the evening, however, was a one hour discussion of energy conservation and efficiency, led by Jimmy Sparks of the St. Paul NEC that opened the workshop. EDA members say the workshop represents the beginning of a long-term push for solar installations across the county.
City of Rochester Energy Committee: Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede appointed 7 citizens to the newly-formed Energy Commission (2 city counicl members will also serve). To see the official ordinance with Energy Commission purpose and duties, click here >>
Algae Biofuels at the U: An article about a U of M professor researching the feasibility of making biofuels from algae. Read the full article here >>
Southwest Region
PUC favors bid from Vestas for Wind Turbines: An article that has an impact on Southwest MN. Read the full article in the New Ulm Journal >>
Hard times at Suzlon: Article from MPR about Pipestone’s Suzlon Energy, the wind turbine industry generally, and the economy. Read the full article here >>
Firm Seeks Wind Projects Near Morgan: A Minneapolis-based firm wants to build a 21-turbine, 31.5 megawatt Large Wind Energy Conversion System (LWECS) southeast of Morgan in Brown and Redwood counties. Read the full article in the New Ulm Journal >>
West Central Region
Willmar Finishing Construction of Wind Turbine: The city of Willmar is finishing construction of two wind turbines. This is the first step the west-central Minnesota city is taking to help meet a state mandate that 25 percent of Minnesota’s energy, including fuel, comes from renewable resources by 2025. Read the full MPR article >>
Little Rock Wind and National Wind acquire Big Stone assets: From the West Central Tribune. Ortonville 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 board, member of both Big Stone Wind and Little Rock Wind’s project companies, said, “This transaction will assure the community wind development efforts we initiated will continue forward under Little Rock Wind.”
Links of the Month
Finding Clean Energy Jobs in Minnesota
CERTs would like to recommend some resources for those looking for work in the clean energy industries in Minnesota.
Minnesota-specific job boards that you should check include PCA’s NextStep and SEEK Job Listings, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Jobs List, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Job Board.
We also recommend keeping up with Green Job & Training Resources from the Office of Energy Security. OES is hiring several people to help meet the state’s federal recovery goals—visit the direct listing of Minnesota Office of Energy Security job openings.
Also check the National Green Jobs Board from SustainLane.
Other popular job search engines with energy listings include careerbuilder.com, idealist.org, indeed.com, job.com, monster.com, yahoo.com, and nationjob.com.
Minnesota Green Jobs Training Opportunities
The Office of Energy security has worked with Minnesota State Colleges and Univerities (MnSCU) to pull together a list of existing courses and workshops on conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Categories include: Workshops & Live Webinars; Online Courses; Custom Training Services; and Post-secondary education programs with green focus or green components.
Click here to download the report >>
Action Alert
Join the Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon Mentor Program!
Right now, there are 100 student teams in schools across Minnesota working to reduce their carbon footprint, and WE WANT YOU to be a mentor!
More about the teams: The teams consist of students and a faculty “coach” as well as some administration and building operations support. The school teams have all received a $500 grant to act as seed money for ways in which they can lower their schools carbon footprint. The schools have also participated in an energy walk through done by Environmental Resource Management (ERM) and received a report identifying some short-term and longer-term actions they can take.
Gearing up for competition: In the fall, the teams will be competing for ten $20,000 grants to be given out to the teams that have the most creative and practical solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. The school teams can use recommendations from the energy walk through report or they can work with their school to create an idea that is best suited to their schools needs. The grants have few restrictions, one of them being that this is a student led project.
The mentor’s role: Your role as a mentor would be to help put the “rubber to the road.” Your involvement might include: Meeting with the students after class, suggesting ideas to give focus, helping them write the grant application, make an introduction to fellow community members, help them prepare presentations for the school board, and many others! We would put you in contact with the “coach” working with the students and let them take it from there, but ideally it revolves around (or “involves”) sharing connections, ideas and a bit of your time with these students as they work towards their goals.
Get started!: See if schools near you are participating in the Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon program by visiting http://www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org/schools. Then, if you are interested in being a mentor, contact Patrick Santelli at schoolscuttingcarbon@cleanenergyresourceteams.org or by phone at 612-625-3759.
Clean Energy Resource Teams