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Year in Review

How did CERTs serve Minnesota communities in 2020?

Relationships & Impacts

By Lissa Pawlisch

Looking back at 2020

 

2021 is off to a fast start, but we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2020 and the ways the Clean Energy Resource Teams were able to help Minnesotans build clean energy in what was a strange and challenging year.

 

By the Numbers

Hosted 31 events with over 1,160 attendees

Connected with 5,653 people at 341 forums

Offset 63.2 billion BTUs (same as 1.8M LED bulbs)

Funded 35 Seed Grant projects

We served 283 Minnesota communities

certs-communities-served-2020-square.png

 

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 2020.

  • GreenStep program: Celebrating 10 years with 137 cities & 4 tribal nations (learn more)
  • Direct solar assistance to jurisdictions: 3 on-site solar projects by Maple Grove & Edina Schools; 2 solar gardens by Saint Paul’s Como Zoo & Hennepin County (learn more)
  • Solar Schools: Launched new resources & shared stories about Pine River-Backus, Morris, Mounds View (learn more)

  • Beneficial Electrification: 14 municipal utilities (including Austin, Chaska, East Grand Forks, Grand Marais, Roseau) joined our EV peer cohort; 18 utilities attended forums in Mt. Iron & Mahnomen on air source heat pumps (learn more)
  • Saving Watts & Drops: Distributed 30,000+ energy saving items with 9 utilities: gas utility MN Energy Resources; co-ops Arrowhead, People’s, East Central; munis Fairmont, Grand Marais, Worthington; IOUs MN Power, Otter Tail Power (learn more)

  • Business Blitzes: 331 business assessments in Appleton, Browns Valley, Canby, Dawson, Graceville, Hendricks, Herman, Hoffman, Lake Benton, Minneota, Wheaton (learn more)
  • PACE: 7 businesses with solar & efficiency projects; Anoka, Freeborn, Watanwon counties sign PACE JPA (learn more)

  • New Tools: Energy saving equipment on the farm and on-farm solar (learn more)
  • Direct Support: Solar leasing guidance, solar site assessments, financing options (learn more)

  • Food Shelves: Advanced partnerships with utilities to distribute 28,000 bulbs to households through 24 food shelves (learn more)
  • Manufactured Homes: Engaged 514 units across 10 parks in Detroit Lakes, Faribault, Northfield with weatherization kits and education (learn more)
  • Under 5%: Advancing partnerships and strategies to reduce the energy burden of all families below 5% by 2025 (learn more)

Top Community Clean Energy Stories of 2020

Stories are powerful—they can inspire people and shape their understanding of what is possible. Below is a selection of a dozen stories from 2020 that really stood out. See more stories & news.

ribbon cutting
Solar Schools

Video: Students drive solar adoption at Mounds View Public Schools

roger solar
Plainview

Video: The Walkes family powers their grain and cattle farm with solar

jennyffer and natalia
Rice County

Video: Empowering families with energy kits and guidance

with ashp
Saint Paul

A family’s journey to decarbonize their home

matters
Conversations

Rebuilding Green on Lake Street in Minneapolis

solar roof
Conversation

Building solar block by block

shiloh temple install
Conversation

Increasing opportunities in the clean energy revolution

ev campsite
Exploring Minnesota

A family’s tour of Minnesota State Parks goes electric

cozy home
Seasonal Tips

10 ways to save energy, keep warm & stay healthy this winter

student team
Mankato

Students at Mankato West High School lead on energy-saving LED lighting project

MiEnergy Cooperative staff and member
Utility Innovation

MiEnergy Electric Co-op midway through residential energy storage pilot

maud borup
Le Center

Video: Wind energy more than eye candy at Maud Borup

We also launched a podcast: Energy Futures

There are many people putting forward compelling ideas and visions for the future, and through interviews and events in 2020 we took time to step back and consider these fresh perspectives and how they can contribute to the clean energy future we’re building together.

Subscribe on:   Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts   Spotify Podcasts   More

10 Years of GreenStep

 

We helped celebrate 10 years of the Minnesota GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program!

After ten years, half of all Minnesotans live in a community that is advancing sustainability through the GreenStep program. We highlighted their efforts in 2020 through stories, video, and infographics.

 
Explore Stories

We Funded 35 Seed Grants Projects

Awarded in January 2020, these community-based clean energy projects were supported by CERTs and will be completed in early 2021. See 2020 grant awards.

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 2020, and you can see more here.

Current Opportunities

Clean Energy Job Board

Find jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields!

Workforce & Training

Consider a Career in the Clean Energy Industry

The industry is growing quickly, and jobs along with it. Learn about clean energy careers and training.

UNDER 5%

Reducing the Energy Burden for all Minnesota Families

Let's reduce the energy burden of all Minnesotans to under 5% of their household income by 2025.

101

Simple Steps to Solar

Learn the basics about solar energy and the options you have to be powered by the sun.

Solar Schools

Powering K-12 education with solar energy

Get step-by-step support for going solar at your school with tools, tips, financing, stories, and more.

Moving Forward

Public Solar Procurement

These tools and resources offer state agencies, local governments, schools & tribal nations resources to move forward with solar procurement.

PACE

Financing for Businesses & Organizations

Pay for energy work through property assessments.

101

Home Energy Guides & Tips

Resources for keeping your home comfortable, safe, and efficient. Guides for renters, landlords, and owners of single family and manufactured homes.

ASHP Resources

Efficiently Heat and Cool with Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) use electricity to heat and cool. Use these resources to learn all about ASHPs and if they might be a good fit for your home or business.

MN Solar Pathways

Minnesota Solar Guide

Information and tools on a range of topics to support solar energy development in communities across the state.

Cities Charging Ahead

Electrify Fleets & Support Charging

Electrifying your local government's vehicle fleets can be an excellent way to save money and meet your sustainability goals. Let’s go!

Solar Directory

Find Solar Installers & Community Solar Providers

Find solar installers to help with your next project and community solar providers offering subscriptions.

2020 Environmental
Initiative Awards

 

CERTs and our many partners were honored to receive awards for Solar Possible and Cities Charging Ahead!

Environmental Initiative Awards celebrate the people and projects working in partnership at the nexus of a healthy environment, a prosperous economy, and an equitable society.

 
Learn more
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How can we help your community move forward with clean energy in 2021?

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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.