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Spotlight on 2025

Year in Review

HIGHLIGHTS

Served more than 300 communities and expanded relationships across Minnesota:

  • 200 local governments
  • 10 Tribal governments
  • 17 school districts
  • 36 electric and gas utilities and their associations
  • 96 regional steering committee members

Provided direct assistance for solar procurement programs:

Solar for Schools: Supported 69 completed and 16 planned Solar for Schools projects, including Menahga, Moorhead, and Willmar school districts.

Solar for Public Buildings: Supported 75 local and Tribal governments including Hitterdal, Seaforth, and Stillwater.

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OUR IMPACT

handshake

7,300+

Community members connected through over 900 events and outreach activities across Minnesota.

thermostat

64.1 BILLION

BTUs saved or generated in 2025 from energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts.

house with a heart

2,850

Energy-burdened households lowered energy costs with energy-saving items and program access.

Community Energy Ambassadors in St. JamesSPOTLIGHTS

Expanding local capacity and energy awareness with Community Energy Ambassadors:

  • Provided online and in-person training to 147 people, including cohorts of local leaders in St. James, Fergus Falls, and Rochester.
     
  • Reached 1,300+ Community Energy Ambassadors in 76 Minnesota counties.
     
  • Supported 24 individuals with community projects — collectively reaching over 8,000 Minnesotans — to become CERTified Community Energy Ambassadors.
Staff at business outreach

Clean energy savings for businesses and nonprofits

  • Conducted door-to-door business outreach with local utility partners to identify energy efficiency projects and conservation sign-ups in Austin, Burnsville, and Eagan.
  • Facilitated efficiency improvements at 19 nonprofit buildings by connecting them to no-cost programs. 
  • Assisted farms and businesses with projects, including a heat pump installation at a Cook County retail store and solar installations for businesses in Lake City and Frost. 
Staff at manufactured home park

Reducing energy burden for Minnesota households

  • Distributed energy conservation resources to shoppers at 19 food shelves, from Pequot Lakes to Red Wing.
  • Partnered with utilities, community action agencies, and nonprofits to provide energy savings resources to over 1,300 manufactured home park residents.
  • Coordinated energy savings programming with partners in a Saint Paul neighborhood with a high energy shutoff rate.

Mission & Focus Areas

We help Minnesotans build clean energy! 

How We Work
Karen Weldon
January 2026

The scoop on CERTs impact in 2025

CERTs Co-directors
December 2025

Reflections on clean energy in Minnesota

Keep up with our work throughout the year!

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