Menu
Year in Review

How did CERTs serve Minnesota communities in 2021?

January 2022

By Lissa Pawlisch

2022 is off to a fast start, but we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2021 and the ways the Clean Energy Resource Teams were able to help Minnesotans advance clean energy.

By the Numbers

Hosted 34 events with over 1,600 attendees

Connected with nearly 6,000 people at 424 forums

Offset 37 billion BTUs (same as 1 million LED bulbs)

Published over 150 clean energy stories

We served 278 Minnesota communities

word cloud of Minnesota communities served

Work Highlights by Audience (click to expand)

CERTs works across the entire state of Minnesota with a wide range of audiences to help them implement clean energy projects. Below is a summary of key work that happened in 2021.

  • Empowering jurisdictions through connections and engagement: 20+ in Community Energy Network; 130+ GreenStep Cities with tools & guides [PDF]
  • Preparing schools to harness solar: 22 districts; Roseville Public School’s 296 kW solar RFP; curriculum tools & stories (learn more)
  • Advancing local projects: EV charging stations in 9 cities; EVs for 6 fleets; City of Morris & Hutchinson Utilities solar RFPs

  • Program implementation: 16 business blitzes with Otter Tail Power and Minnesota Power; manufactured home energy efficiency with 7 utilities
  • Convening for innovation: 2 collaborative utility research projects with East River Power Cooperative and Great River Energy
  • Advancing EV programming and adoption: Muni EV cohort spurred publicly available EV chargers; peer learning; Roseau EV ride & drive

  • Expanding reach: Latinx-owned businesses in Austin, St. Paul, Willmar, & Worthington; seed grant to certify NE MN electricians to install solar (learn more)
  • Assisting with funding options: St. Paul Port Authority & Rural MN Energy Board PACE; Minneapolis Green Cost Share program (learn more)

  • Expanding reach: farm energy events in Osakis & Staples; efficiency, renewables, & funding technical assistance
    Advancing agriculture-energy synergies: renewable energy siting event; Murray County strategic solar siting; wind-to-green-ammonia study to enable local production

  • Supporting home energy efficiency & Energy Assistance Program: Home Energy Guides in English, Hmong, Spanish, & Somali; community-based outreach 
  • Piloting strategies for manufactured homes: 13 parks serving 800+ homes; how-to videos for do-it-yourself repairs in English & Spanish (learn more)
  • Advancing access to solar: community solar resources and project to explore new models; Solar for Vouchers pilot program

Top Community Clean Energy Stories of 2021

Stories are powerful — they can inspire people and shape their understanding of what is possible. Below is a selection of a dozen stories from 2021 that really stood out. See more stories & news.

aerial
February 2021

Prairie Island Indian Community powering seven generations with clean energy

fam shot
April 2021

Finding success with air source heat pumps in cold climates

with ashp
December 2020

A family’s journey to decarbonize their home

Enel Aurora solar grazing sheep
March 2021

Grazing livestock and growing pollinator-friendly plants add value to solar farms

capture the wind and sun
January 2021

City of Moorhead achieves 100% carbon-free electricity

people at event table outside
November 2021

CERTs effort reduces energy burden in 38 manufactured home parks, and counting!

solar kids
March 2021

New K-8 curriculum shines light on solar energy

Rampa
March 2021

Developing community solar cooperatively in Minnesota

new washers at HD Laundry
June 2021

HD Laundry on Lake Street rebuilds green with Recovery Rebates

nina
January 2021

Decarbonizing with district energy and geothermal

red lake govt center solar
May 2021

Piloting community-scale energy storage systems in Minnesota

Cowbot with solar trailer, courtesy of West Central Research and Outreach Center
November 2021

COWBOT! Coming to a field near you?

We Created Useful Tools & Guides

A big part of helping Minnesotans build clean energy is highlighting opportunities and offering step-by-step guidance. Below are new and notable tools in 2021, and you can find more at Tools & Guides.

Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota

Powering K-12 education with clean energy

Home Energy Guides & Tips

Community Solar Gardens

Consider a Career in the Clean Energy Industry

Air Source Heat Pumps

Current Opportunities

Clean Energy Job Board

Find energy efficiency and renewable energy jobs in Minnesota

Home Energy Guides & Tips

Find Solar Installers Working in Minnesota

logo

How can we help your community move forward with clean energy in 2022?

Get in touch with us

Download

CERTs 2021 Highlights & Accomplishments
Download

Sign up for our email newsletter

We encourage reuse and republishing of this story. All Clean Energy Resource Teams stories are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, meaning you can share and adapt the work as long as you give us credit. We'd also love it if you link back to the original piece. Have questions or want to chat? Drop us a line.