Joel Anastasio, Northwest CERT Coordinator

CERTs welcomes Joel Anastasio as new Northwest Coordinator

The Clean Energy Resource Teams are pleased to welcome Joel Anastasio as our new Coordinator for the Northwest Region. Based in Bemidji, Joel is already very engaged in local energy work, and his mix of education, connections, and experiences will help him have a great impact across the region. We asked Joel to share a little bit about himself, his background, and what he’s looking forward to with CERTs.

As a native Floridian, I spent 20 years of my life by the beach, which influenced my love for the ocean and the environment!

As for my education, after my first two years at Edison State College, I moved to North Carolina and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, with a focus on the environment, from the University of North Carolina Asheville. During my undergraduate career I worked with the VITA program, researching improved waste programs, analyzing economic variables of organic consumption, and creating policy proposals. I am in the final stages of completing my Masters in Energy Regulation and Law, with a concentration in Climate Law, from Vermont Law School and was chosen as the recipient of the Vermont Law School Academic Excellence Award.

For work, following a two-year stint in Washington D.C., my wife and I moved to Bemidji in 2016, where my passion and career in clean energy and environmental stewardship flourished. Currently, I serve on the City of Bemidji Sustainability Committee and partner with the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). In addition to being the new Northwest CERT Coordinator, I also serve as the Environmental and Development Specialist at the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC). In this role I work on advancement and planning in the areas of clean energy, climate change, natural resource and environmental management, community development, and transportation. I can’t wait to dig in and support clean energy efforts across Northwest Minnesota!

Outside of my professional and collegiate career, I enjoy spending time with my wife, and two golden retrievers, hiking, boating on the lake, cooking, and traveling.

Say hi and introduce yourself to Joel, and let him know what kinds of projects you’re trying to get done:

Joel Anastasio
Northwest CERT Coordinator
218-333-6538
[email protected]

And a big thanks to Matt McFarland for his time with CERTs as the previous Northwest Coordinator!

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