News

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeks public, private, and nonprofit owners of fossil fuel on-road and off-road equipment and vehicles that are used within food systems in Minnesota to apply to this competitive grant opportunity to partially fund new, cleaner versions of these equipment and vehicles. 

The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships at the University of Minnesota Extension wants to hear your ideas to advance sustainability within your area!

A note from CERTs Co-Directors to close out 2025.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking proposals from residential energy contractors for its Training for Residential Energy Contractors grant program, which aims to increase the number of skilled contractors for home energy efficiency upgrades. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is offering approximately $135,000 in grant funding to help businesses and organizations purchase bicycles and electric-assisted bicycles for commercial use. 

The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships announced a new round of funding for Minnesota farmers to take on climate adaptation and mitigation projects, due Jan. 2.

This fall, Olivia Siebert joined the Metro CERT squad at the Great Plains Institute as our newest Minnesota GreenCorps member!

New round of State Competitive Fund Matching Funds reflect expanded amount of eligible federal awards.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce seeks proposals from local units of government in designated counties for energy efficiency and conservation planning grants.

Tribes, cities, counties, and other local governments can apply by Dec. 11, 2025.

Power-up your clean energy journey with a chance to win a portable solar panel charger. Take the steps to becoming a CERTified Community Energy Ambassador and you could win!
 

Our new tool helps you discover programs that can help pay for clean energy projects in Minnesota. 

As you think about what kind of seeds you want to plant – remember, CERTs Seed Grant applications are due October 1 – you can enjoy some stories of impactful past projects by Minnesota communities.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce seeks proposals from qualified applicants throughout Minnesota for the Electric School Bus Grant Program.

Deloitte is hosting a series of webinars with the municipalities within the State of MN to provide an overview of the IRA and how they can take advantage of the assistance Deloitte has been hired to provide.

The MN Department of Commerce's Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program is now available throughout Minnesota with $15 million available.

The federal bill H.R. 1 was signed earlier in July and changed many of the clean energy incentives brought about or expanded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Here's what we know and what we're following to learn more.
 

Power-up your clean energy journey with a chance to win a portable solar panel charger. Take the steps to becoming a CERTified Community Energy Ambassador and you could win!
 

Get the scoop on staff travels across Minnesota this summer, plus an update on IRA incentives, as well as the latest clean energy news, events, and opportunities in Minnesota!  

The MN Department of Commerce will accept readiness assessments for the final round of Solar for Schools grants though July 31, 2025.

In this issue of CERTs Energy Stories we share insights and overviews of our energy systems. Plus the latest clean energy news, events, and opportunities in Minnesota!  

Let's take a look at a remarkable human system, one that has come about because people dared to imagine something different than what had come before, dared to innovate at every level and in every part of our energy system. And now it’s our turn to imagine!

In this issue of CERTs Energy Stories: Get to know Keely Rau! From AmeriCorps to Ambassadors, she's helping others find their own paths. Plus the latest clean energy news, events, and opportunities in Minnesota!  

The ECO Income-Eligible Working Group will reconvene to explore how utility-administered, ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs can better serve under-resourced households across Minnesota.