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About

Mission & Focus Areas

Our mission is to connect individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects.

Our Approach

We meet people exactly where they are

No matter where they live and work in Minnesota or where they are along their clean energy journey.

We convert learning into doing, then do it again

Our pragmatic, cooperative, and unbiased approach gets people up to speed, connected, and ready to act.

We strive toward inclusive access

We work to create opportunities for engagement and participation in clean energy for everyone.

We're having an impact across Minnesota

How We Work

We offer unbiased technical assistance

With the right staff expertise, resources, and connections to help you move forward.

We provide limited financial assistance

Through Seed Grants that catalyze local energy efficiency & renewable energy projects.

We work across Minnesota (for real)

CERTs directly staffs and engages with steering committees in each of seven regions in Minnesota.

We Have Teams In Every Part of Minnesota

 

Staff:

Melissa Birch
Central CERT Coordinator
218-866-2338
melissa@cleanenergyresourceteams.org
 

Steering Committee:

  • Jill Amundson, West Central Initiative Foundation
  • Li Boyd, formerly Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resources and Environment
  • Amy Collins, Missouri River Energy Services
  • Jon Fabre, Otter Tail Power Company
  • Hank Ludtke, City of Frazee
  • Sarah Hayden Shaw, Creative Energy Services
  • Quinn Swanson, Happy Dancing Turtle and Hunt Utilities Group
  • Allison Uselman, Todd Wadena Electric Cooperative
  • Molly Zins, U of M Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
 

 

Staff:

Diana McKeown
Metro CERT Director
612-278-7158
dmckeown@gpisd.net

Steering Committee:

  • Stacy Boots Camp, Center for Energy and Environment
  • Carmen Carruthers, Citizens Utility Board
  • Ralph Dickinson, Michaels Energy
  • Julie Drennen, Center for Energy and Environment
  • Leah Hiniker, Hennepin County
  • Jennifer McLoughlin, City of Woodbury
  • Garrett Mosiman, Center for Sustainable Building Research
  • Yvonne Pfeifer, Xcel Energy
  • Erin Smith, City of Carver
  • John Suzukida, Shoreview Environment Quality Committee
  • Anders Thulin, Siemens
  • Mateo Trujillo, Sierra Club
  • Eric Wojchik, Metropolitan Council
 

 

Staff:

Colby Abazs
Northeast CERT Coordinator
218-353-1448
colby@cleanenergyresourceteams.org
 

Steering Committee:

  • David Abazs, U of M Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
  • Brian Bluhm, Northeast Statewide Health Improvement Program – Healthy Northland
  • Jim DeVries, Laurentian Environmental Learning Center, YES!
  • Matthew Engesser, Cook County Local Energy Project
  • Katie Frye, Minnesota Power
  • Peter Harris, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center
  • Vince Meyer, Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency
  • Yusef Orest, Minnesota Power
 

 

Staff:

Shannon Stassen
Northwest CERT Coordinator
218-281-8693
sstassen@umn.edu
 

Steering Committee:

  • Erika Adams, Biologist and Translator
  • Bob Backman, active community member
  • David Bahr, 3Suns Research
  • Anna Carlson, Bemidji State University
  • Katy Chapman, University of Minnesota Crookston
  • Ashley Charwood, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
  • Roger Garton, Otter Tail Power Company
  • Linda Kingery, UM Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
  • Donald Martodam, Northern Municipal Power Agency
  • Shannon Mortenson, City of Warren
  • Michael Triplett, White Earth Reservation Tribal Council
 

 

Staff:

Chris Meyer
Southeast CERT Coordinator
507-454-2691
chris@cleanenergyresourceteams.org

Steering Committee:

  • Sig Anderson, CURE Board
  • Briana Baker, Energy Efficiency Auditor
  • Kevin Bright, Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency
  • Jared Hendricks, Owatonna Public Utilities
  • John Howard, City of Winona
  • Rich Huelskamp, Sun’s Warmth
  • Micah Johnson, Solar Connection
  • Kelly Lady, Austin Utilities
  • Mark Owens, Mark Owens Residential Design
  • Leigh Pomeroy, Southcentral Minnesota Clean Energy Council
  • Anna Richey, Conservation Minnesota
  • Ray Schmitz, Olmsted CERT
  • Paul Uecker, Farmer
  • Okechukwu M. Ukaga, SE Experiment in Rural Cooperation
  • Roger Wacek, Independent Contractor
 

 

Staff:

Jason Walker
Southwest CERT Coordinator
507-836-1642
jasonw@swrdc.org
 

Steering Committee:

  • Jon Beckman, Federated Electric
  • Xander Carney, member at large
  • Anne Dybsetter, University of Minnesota Extension
  • Tracey Haberman, Nobles Cooperative Electric
  • Jim Haler, South Central Electric
  • Al Kruse, member at large
  • Eric (Rathman) L’Abbé, University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Energy Committee
  • Laura Malwitz, Siemens Energy & Environmental Solutions
  • Gary Overgaard, Rock County Commissioner, RMEB
  • Rose Patzer, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
  • Paul Pierson, Small Business Development Center Minnesota
  • Vince Robinson, Development Services, Inc.
  • Harold Stanislawski, Agriculture Utilization and Research Institute
  • Jeffery Veerkamp, Brown County Commissioner, RMEB
  • Don Wachal, Jackson County Commissioner, RMEB
  • Dan Wildermuth, Pipestone County Commissioner, RMEB
 

 

Staff:

Jacob Selseth
West Central CERT Coordinator
612-801-7955
jacob@cleanenergyresourceteams.org

Steering Committee:

  • Eric Buchanan, UMN West Central Research and Outreach Center
  • Anne Dybsetter, UMN SW Regional Sustainable Development Partnership Director
  • Shelli-Kae Foster, Youth Energy Summit (YES!)
  • Troy J. Goodnough, University of Minnesota Morris
  • John Paulson, City of Hutchinson
  • Leroy Petersen, Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission
  • Bob Ryan, European Energy Connections
  • Connie Schmoll, Kandiyohi County & Willmar Economic Development Commission
  • Dan Tepfer, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative
 

We Help Guide Your Clean Energy Projects

Cities & Counties

Utilities

Farmers

Businesses & Orgs

Schools

Underserved Communities

Residents

Tribal Nations

We Offer Outreach &
Education Opportunities

 
  1. Events
    Upcoming tours, workshops, webinars, conferences, and more to help you learn and get connected.
  2. Tools & Guides
    Resources by topic and technology to help you understand your options and move projects forward.
  3. Storytelling
    Read stories about people from across Minnesota who are building a clean energy future in their communities.
  4. Job Board
    Find your next opportunity in Minnesota's quickly growing clean energy industry.
 

WE HELP WITH GRANTS & FINANCING

PACE

Financing for Businesses & Organizations

Pay for energy work through property assessments.

CERTs Seed Grants

Catalyzing Grants for Communities

CERTs offers small grants every two years to help communities implement local projects. $1.3M granted to 393 projects since 2006.

Rural Development

Grants for Farmers & Rural Businesses

The USDA supports clean energy projects in Greater MN through their REAP program. The next grant deadline is October 31, 2020.

Get Bids

Model RFP for Third-Party Solar

Third-party financing is an innovative tool for public entities to tap into long-term energy cost savings without requiring large up-front capital expenditures

Downloads

CERTs Factsheet
Download
2019 Annual Report
Download
CERTs Region Map
Download