Northwest Region
Northwest CERT is focused on energy conservation and renewable energy generation that provides opportunities within Northwestern Minnesota
Recent Blog Posts
Joel Haskard
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 5:26pm
As we kick off 2012, we are excited to announce the projects awarded CERTs seed grants in each of the seven Minnesota CERTs regions. Each region awarded $10,000 worth of seed grants, catalyzing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state. The funding is provided by the...
Dan Thiede
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:58pm
USDA Rural Development is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) authorized by the 2008 Farm...
Brittney Bray
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:31am
Throughout Minnesota, schools are making a conscious effort to promote energy efficiency – both in the classroom and in practice. Now, the Minnesota Department of Education is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education to recognize these schools with the newly launched Green Ribbon Schools...
Northwest Event Highlights
Northwest Case Studies
In a changing community, advances in sustainability are often the result of key individuals who provide the passion, the motivation, the inspiration...
Dan Evans and Jason Edens can be considered sparks—as the well-known cliché goes, “you can’t start a fire without a spark.” Together they have...
The vegetable dehydration plant, Minnesota Dehydrated Vegetables (MVD), has secured services of an engineering firm to design an anaerobic digester...
Northwest Region on CERTs TV
Northwest Region Reports
Northwest Highlights
Northwest CERT Focus: Northwest CERT set a goal to achieve a 1% per year improvement in energy conservation for the next 10 years and a goal for a 1% per year increase in renewable energy generation for the next 10 years with a focus on efforts that would provide generation opportunities within Northwestern Minnesota. The team feels that these two goals give the region something to strive for and allow it to target its initiatives on local communities that can then realize the benefits of local generation.
Northwest CERT Priorities: ground source heat pumps, small-scale biomass power plants, and exploring biogas digesters at agricultural processing facilities.
Northwest Contact
Northwest Map
Northwest Community Groups
Use our map of local community organizations to connect with a group in your part of the state! Explore map.
CERTs Supported Projects
CERTs awards mini-grants to community groups for energy efficiency and clean energy projects across Minnesota. We awarded grants in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. The average amount is $5,000. We have descriptions and maps of all of the projects that we’ve funded. Check them out to see what folks are doing! See projects
Volunteer & Get Involved
Looking to get involved in your community and make connections with others in Minnesota who are passionate about clean energy and energy efficiency? There are lots of different ways to plug in. Learn more
Northwest Steering Committee
- Paul Aakre, UM Crookston Faculty
- Bonnie Abel, East Grand Forks Water and Light Department
- Erika Bailey-Johnson, Bemidji State University
- Jason Carlson, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
- Linda Kingery, UM Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
- Chris May, New Horizon Resort & Lodge
- Linda Mickelson, Red Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Mike Moore, Thief River Falls Community Development
- Art Nash, University of Minnesota Extension Educator-Community Economics
- Anthony Schaffhauser, Optivation at Bemidji State University
- Mike Triplett, White Earth Tribal Council
- Darryl Tveitbakk, Northern Municipal Power Assn
- Jim Steenerson, Northwest Minnesota Foundation (Advisory Committee Member)
- Brad Stevens, UND Energy & Environmental Research Center (Advisory Committee Member)
Stay Connected
More Resources for the Northwest Region
Meeting Notes:
- May 26, 2011 – Meet ‘n Greet at BSU
- February 24, 2011 – Meet ‘n Greet at Dahlgren’s
- August 20, 2010
- June 19, 2009
- Conservation and Energy Efficiency Programs (3.13mb pdf) – Darryl Tveitbakk and Dalene Monsebroten, Northern Municipal Power Agency
- AURI Renewable Energy Template (1.35mb pdf) – Cecil Massie, 6Solutions LLC
- January 27, 2009 (presentations)
- October 20, 2008 (presentation)
- June 18, 2008 (presentations)
- February 5, 2008
- July 31, 2007
- April 25, 2007
- November 2, 2006
- April 27, 2006
Presentations:
Smart Grid Technology in NW MN
April 21, 2010
- Smart Meter Basics and Benefits (650kb pdf) by Darryl Tveitbakk, Northern Municipal Power Agency
- Smart Grid Technology Use (123kb pdf) by Corey Thompson & Bonnie Abel, East Grand Forks Water and Light
- Smart Grid & Beyond (2.3mb pdf) by Joe Jacobson, Eusco
Publications:
Strategic Energy Plan: Each regional team spent considerable time mapping regional energy use and identifying clean energy opportunities in its Regional Strategic Energy Plan. Read all the details on the Regional Plans page.
Farm-scale Oil Extraction & Sustainable Uses for Oil and Meal – UMN RSDP and Partners (Summer 2008)
County Renewable Energy Inventories: The goal of these inventories is to match up local renewable energy sources with local energy demand and lessen the reliance on non-local, non-renewable energy. Click here to learn more. Click on a link below to download the inventory for your county.
Clean Energy Resource Teams