Start Your Own CERT

Join us! This page should answer many key questions as you consider getting involved in a regional CERT or starting your own CERT. To learn more about CERTs, visit the About section of the site.

What is a Clean Energy Resource Team?

Clean Energy Resource Teams give community members a voice in the energy planning process by connecting them with the necessary technical resources to identify and implement community-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The CERTs approach is one of pragmatism and cooperation. It’s a model for how tangible social and environmental benefits can be achieved by reaching across traditional interest groups and taking a true, community-based approach.

What are the teams doing now?

  • Conducting education and outreach around conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and how people can make a difference in their own communities.
  • Stimulating project development.
  • Serving as a community resource to connect projects with technical resources.

What are benefits to starting a Clean Energy Resource Team in my community?

CERTs is a well-established program with active and engaged members already in place:

  • Since 2003, over 1,100 individuals have volunteered thousands of hours to identifying and implementing clean energy projects throughout the state.
  • The CERTs Web site has been a tremendous resource success, attracting 25,000 new visitors a year.
  • We have 1,200 people that we communicate with via our list serve.
  • The CERTs program was the winner of the 2006 Minnesota Environmental Initiative’s Partnership of the Year award for the diverse collection of stakeholders working to make clean energy a reality in their communities.
  • In 2007 CERTs was written into Minnesota state statute.

Specific benefits of creating a community CERT:

  • You will be able to post your projects and events on the statewide CERTs website.
  • Your team will be able to share ideas and projects via the Monthly Update and Clean Energy Case Studies.
  • You will be kept posted on current funding opportunities.
  • You will be able to access technical assistance from the statewide CERT office and participating CERT members around the state.

What responsibilities will our team have?

Minnesota has a wealth of natural resources and passionate people working together to identify and implement clean energy projects across the state. CERT members find a myriad of ways big and small to make a difference in their communities. To see some examples, check out Clean Energy Projects You Can Do NOW.

If you are starting your own Clean Energy Resource Team in your community, here are a few things you will need to be aware of:

  • We ask that you continue to participate actively in the larger, regional CERT.
  • Although statewide CERT staff will be happy to provide assistance when possible, you will need to facilitate your local meetings (and the agenda, press releases, location confirmation, and other minutiae that come with it).
  • The statewide CERT staff would like the names and e-mails of participants in order to maintain consistent communication.
  • Please keep some record (meeting notes, newsletter) of your meetings and projects so that we can highlight good ideas or projects with the larger CERT community.

Does CERTs do legislative and policy work?

No. The CERTs project is based on getting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects done, not engaging in energy policy. Teams are inclusive and work with people and organizations interested in advancing these goals. One of the beauties of the CERT process is that it engages community members from all walks of life working together on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. What motivates one CERT member or even team may not be the motivator for others in the CERTs organization.

With that in mind, it is imperative that the regional planning, education, and project development function of CERTs is kept completely separate from the advocacy in which we as individuals or participating organizations may engage. General conversation along the lines “I’m a member of a CERT and I think…” is fine; however a conversation that starts with “I’m a member of a CERT and we think…” is not. To be clear about what we consider off limits, it is NOT okay to:

  • Use CERTs name, logos, or endorsement in printed or written forms to advocate for specific bills or laws to be adopted or changed.
  • Publicly speak on behalf of CERTs while advocating for specific bills or laws to be adopted or changed.
  • Privately engage with law makers on behalf of CERTs to advance specific bills or laws.
  • Use official CERTs meetings or other CERTs resources to develop policy positions and strategies to advance specific policies.