News

American Farmland Trust wants to better understand farmers' engagement with solar development and opportunities to create better solar programs.

The new Clean School Bus Program provides five billion dollars over five years to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. The EPA is expected to accept rebate applications May 20 through August 2022.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting applications for Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants through August 4, 2022.

It's been five years since the Midwest's first electric school bus arrived in Minnesota. We reached out to Great River Energy's Jill Eide, commercial industrial and agricultural strategist at the electric cooperative, to learn about the early results from the Lakeville pilot. 

The Department of Commerce will conduct an April 26 webinar on the Solar for Schools 2nd round grant program (outside Xcel Energy territory).

The Green Neighbor Challenge is looking for feedback on a new tool that will help residents across the United States find and sign up for green energy. Find out how you can help!

The MREA Clean Energy Leadership Award is designed to assist students who are pursuing degrees and/or relevant credentials in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, or clean technology. We touched base with MREA Executive Director Nick Hylla to learn more.

To kick off 2022, CERTs hosted a series of internal EV (electric vehicle) focused webinars. CERTs steering committee members and staff had a chance to hear from local experts on the latest EV facts and trends. Learning opportunities like these mean our statewide team can better support Minnesota communities in their EV journeys. Read on to learn what CERTs staff thought about the series.

In 2021 CERTs received seed grant proposals from across the state related to electric vehicle (EV) charging. While we were unable to fund all of these projects, we're pleased to share an opportunity for purchasing level II EV chargers at a reduced rate. The offer comes from our friends at ZEF Energy. We sat down with Chris Grunseth, director of commercial sales for ZEF Energy, to learn more!

Apply now to host a Minnesota GreenCorps member within your organization for the 2022-23 program year. Minnesota GreenCorps is an environmentally focused AmeriCorps program coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Members serve at organizations throughout the state, completing community-focused environmental projects while gaining experience and learning valuable job skills.

John Siegenthaler of Appropriate Designs presented details for crafting hydronic systems for modern low energy and net zero buildings at the Energy Design Conference Feb. 22, 2022. He also spoke with NE CERT Regional Coordinator Colby Abazs in an episode of Energetic Talk.

In partnership with CERTs, the Metropolitan Council’s pilot Solar-for-Vouchers Program set out in the fall of 2020 to help address the demand for affordable housing and sustainability in the metro, resulting in new housing units for 30 Minnesota families.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and our partner, the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) at University of Minnesota Extension, are delighted to welcome Emily Haeg Nguyen to our team as our new Sustainability Storyteller.

Greater Minnesota residents with an idea to strengthen their community can now apply for partnership support from the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships.

The Department of Commerce will conduct engagement sessions to share solar for schools grant program structure and requirements, the application process, and to provide technical assistance.

Do you represent and serve communities who have traditionally been underserved or underrepresented in the state-based energy conversation? The Minnesota Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources is planning to issue three to five awards ranging from $10,000-30,000 to qualified organizations or individuals to develop an equitable process(es) to engage these communities in state-level energy planning, with the goal of establishing long-term trusting relationships. 

Our 2021 Metro CERT Annual Event was online for the safety of all the participants and speakers. The event was in many ways a follow up to the 2020 Annual Event focused on the role of clean energy in the rebuild following the murder of George Floyd. The keynote presentation was by Abe Demmaj and the rebuilding of his business, G & L Furniture. Instead of our traditional Metro CERT “year in review," we asked some of our steering committee members to share work they participated in via lightning talks. The final presentation came from 2020 seed grant recipient Shannon Crabtree, Senior Planner & Community Development Manager with HOURCAR.

CERTs formed a partnership to host the first electric vehicle event in Roseau, MN on September 29, 2021. This event was an opportunity for over 150 attendees to experience electric vehicles firsthand.

One of my goals when starting my internship with Minneapolis Climate Action was to connect more directly with Minneapolis communities. As a college student living in Saint Paul, it is sometimes difficult to get out of the Macalester bubble, but it is necessary for growth and learning. Actually speaking to your neighbors and the neighborhoods around you is what gets you connected and allows for relationship building.

Abby joins the Great Plains Institute, working on electric vehicles (EVs) with the Communities team and Metro CERT for an 11-month service term. In this role, Abby will conduct outreach and education encouraging the use of EVs and EV infrastructure in the Metro area and greater Minnesota.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams are delighted to welcome Shaylyn Bernhardt as our new Communications and Engagement Manager! 

Shaylyn will work to advance CERTs’ clean energy mission through timely and relevant storytelling, engagement, and education, providing strategic direction to CERTs’ communications work.