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Community Energy Ambassadors Training Checklist

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Community Energy Ambassadors start from a place of curiosity around energy efficiency and renewable energy topics.

When you become an Ambassador, CERTs provides training to make you feel comfortable and confident in engaging your community on clean energy opportunities. You don't have to be an expert in clean energy, you just need to be curious and open to learning more. Whether you're determined to become a CERTified Community Energy Ambassador by completing the training, or you just want to become better informed on different aspects of clean energy, we welcome you!

Ambassador Roadmap Illustration

Follow the steps to get started.

After you've completed the training videos, you'll develop your project idea, and a CERTs staff member will reach out to support you as you move forward. Once your approved project and report are complete, you'll be a CERTified Community Energy Ambassador with opportunities to engage communities on clean energy in ways that work for you. 

But there's no pressure to commit. We're glad you're here and we're happy to share more about clean energy with you! You can always visit this page to review sessions and find more information on topics you want to dive into.

Have questions or feedback? 

Drop us an email anytime: [email protected]

Pre-Training Assessment
Post-Training Survey
Project Proposal
Project Report

Step 1: Get to Know the Community Energy Ambassadors Program

Watch a brief video explaining the program, why we created it, and what we hope to accomplish with Community Energy Ambassadors across Minnesota. We also recorded an introduction to the training checklist.

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Step 2: Pre-Training Assessment

Where are you on your clean energy journey? Help us understand where you’re starting from by completing this survey before you dive into the training videos.

Pre-Training Survey

Step 3: Training Videos

Watch the videos in order and fill out the post-training survey after each one.

April 9, 2025 | we're in the process of updating our videos and slides, and until those are ready to go, the incentives referenced in the existing videos may be changing.

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#1 Community Engagement

An overview of how you can effectively engage your community as you connect them to the clean energy resources that fit their needs.

Training portion of video - 14:48

Watch video #1
Review slides #1
Survey #1
Engagement resources
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#2 Paying for Your Project

An introduction to programs, incentives, and financing that can make home energy upgrades more affordable. 

Training portion of video - 36:28

Watch video #2
Review slides #2
Survey #2
Resources to fund projects
energy meter illustration

#3 Home Energy Efficiency

Home energy efficiency basics that explain different ways to save money and energy in residential homes.

Training portion of video - 22:34

Watch video #3
Review slides #3
Survey #3
Energy Efficiency Resources

Remember to track your progress!

Record your training progress by submitting the post-training survey after each video you watch.

Post-Training Survey
illustration of air source heat pump

#4 Heat Pumps for Homes

An overview of how heat pumps can efficiently work in homes for space heating and cooling, as well as heating water and drying clothes.

Training portion of video - 43:40

Watch video #4
Review slides #4
Survey #4
Heat pump resources
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#5 How to Speak Solar

A introduction to solar energy and energy storage. 

Training portion of video - 27:22

Watch video #5
Review slides #5
Survey #5
Solar energy resources
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#6 EV 101 & EVs in Greater Minnesota

Electric vehicle (EV) basic information and how they can work for Greater Minnesota residents.

Training portion of video - 31:22

Watch video #6
Review slides #6
Survey #6
EV Resources

Step 4: The Project

Now that you’ve watched the training videos and perhaps joined a networking event, it's time to put your learning into action.

This project will give you space to explore what it’s like being a Community Energy Ambassador. With opportunities to meet with CERTs staff and reflect on your experiences, the project will launch your community energy ambassadorship!

Project Steps:

A. Brainstorm ideas for a project and submit a brief project proposal. If your idea is only half-baked, that’s okay! Use our project worksheet (PDF) to jot down ideas.

B. Meet with CERTs staff to discuss your project idea.

C. Put your project into action.

D. Share the highlights and learnings in a project report.

E. Become CERTified! We’ll reach out to you with your CERTification award.

Project Ideas

Here are a few ideas for projects:

  • Write an article.
  • Present about a clean energy topic.
  • Host a discussion.

Find more ideas in our project worksheet (PDF).

NOTE: CERTs is a nonpartisan partnership and does not do policy or advocacy work. As a Community Energy Ambassador your focus is on the implementation of clean energy ideas and projects.

Project Prep

Projects can vary as long as they involve you engaging with your community about clean energy. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you think about your project:

  • Clean energy topic: What aspect of clean energy am I most excited about?
  • Audience: In my community, who do I want to share that information with? Who might benefit the most from learning about it and moving forward on a project?
  • Strategy: What are some ways I might reach the audience I’ve identified about my clean energy topic?
  • Skills: What are the engagement skills that I already have? Are there engagement skills that I want to develop further?
  • Partners: Are there other individuals or organizations who would make good partners on my project?
  • Support: Is there any assistance I would need to complete my project?

Step 5: Project Proposal

After you work out your project idea, use this tool to submit your project proposal to CERTs. Then a staff member will reach out to you to help you get started.

Project Proposal

Step 6: Project Report

Once your project is complete, fill out this short report to share what you learned from your project and finalize your training, You're almost a CERTified Community Energy Ambassador!

Project Report

Bonus Opportunities

Here are some resources to supplement your training. These aren't required for CERTification, just nice-to-haves!

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Wind Energy

Community Development Director Jason Walker at Southwest Regional Development Commission, gives an overview of utility scale renewable energy in southwestern Minnesota, with a focus on wind energy. 

Watch the video
More wind energy resources
CERTs banner

Engagement Resources

Get familiar with videos and handouts you can use to engage your community. 

Resources + tools
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Learning + Connecting

Find clean energy webinars and events online and across Minnesota to keep you informed and connected.

Upcoming events

CERTified Community Energy Ambassadors

Ambassador badgetOnce you become CERTified, your clean energy journey doesn’t stop. You can continue to: 

  • Learn about clean energy technologies and programs, as well as engagement practices.
  • Connect with other Ambassadors, with CERTs staff, and, most importantly, with your community.
  • Get projects done! It starts with imagining what’s possible and building community around the idea. Then you identify resources and do the project. Finally, you tell your story, because that helps others imagine their own clean energy projects!

You’ll receive invitations to webinars and other learning opportunities, as well as to virtual and in-person networking events. We’ll share new informational resources and emerging clean energy opportunities. 

Remember, you are not alone! CERTs is here to support communities through the process of identifying and implementing community-based clean energy projects. That means we are here to support Ambassadors too – we encourage you to reach out with questions anytime! 

A few times a year we will send out a short survey asking you to share what you’re working on as a Community Energy Ambassador. “But wait,” you say, “I want to share what I’m doing right away!” That’s an option too. Use this reporting tool anytime you’d like to share your progress with us.

NOTE: CERTs is a nonpartisan partnership and does not do policy or advocacy work. As a Community Energy Ambassador your focus is on the implementation of clean energy ideas and projects.

Ambassador News

Our newsletter for Ambassadors shares updates on clean energy incentives, networking opportunities, and engagement resources. Have you signed up? Here are the latest issues:

Questions? Feedback?

Send us an email anytime: [email protected]