News

Over the past eight years CERTs staff have had the honor of working with Bill Mittlefehldt as our Northeast Clean Energy Resource Team (NE CERT) Coordinator.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams get to host two interns this summer, one at the Great Plains Institute and another at the University of Minnesota.

Keep reading to learn a little more about their studies, what they’ll be working on, and how to reach out.

There are now more than 100 cities in Minnesota participating in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. Most of the cities involved are small-to-medium-sized cities where the support of a savvy intern can help staff go the extra step on accomplishing best practices.

Minnesota is not too shabby when it comes to clean energy these days. Below are recent reports from two national organizations, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), highlighting Minnesota’s place in the solar and wind energy landscape.

There are a lot of communities with outdoor swimming pools in Minnesota, and many of them struggle with the high costs of keeping them heated.

If you happen to be in Worthington, be sure and stop into Mini Market Lupita for a delicious lunch in the restaurant or to shop at the attached grocery store. Owner Maria Parga has created a great place, and she has done so partly by working with economic development partners in the region to take advantage of existing programs to reduce her energy costs.

Sid and Nadine Malchow own the Hi-Lo Supper Club & Catering in Lakefield, MN, and have been an important thread in their community’s fabric over the years. In fact, the Hi-Lo Restaurant & Catering has been proudly serving Southwest Minnesota and Northern Iowa with fine dining for over 65 years, and the Malchows have been providing catering services for over 25 years.

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On Tuesday afternoon, May 24, 2016, the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission hosted a West Central Clean Energy Resource Teams (WC CERT) event focused on all things solar. The event was geared toward helping participants understand what solar means for local government, planning agencies, and residents. A room full of 36 people gathered to soak up the information.

If you are in Good Thunder (pop. 583) looking for a fun thrift store to update your home décor, stop into Main Street Repeats. Owners George and Maureen Spear not only have great deals awaiting the discerning customer, they also know a great deal when they see one: they recently upgraded their lights to LEDs using the Property Accessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.

Deep Portage, a nonprofit Environmental Learning Center located near Hackensack, Minnesota, has a powerful story to tell of how they are building a sustainable energy future in Central Minnesota. Clean energy work has made Deep Portage stand out as a leader in energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

USDA Rural Development State Director recently announced funding to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers conserve energy and develop renewable energy systems.

“This funding will allow local rural small businesses and ag producers the opportunity to invest in improvements that will reduce energy usage or use energy more efficiently,” Landkamer said.

On a sunny afternoon in South Minneapolis on March 22nd, just as school was getting out and cars zoomed past on 35W overhead, a celebration of local energy innovation was on display at Taqueria La Hacienda on East Lake Street.

Hamdi Restaurant, offering traditional Somali food on East Lake Street, was eager to participate in the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership program to improve the energy efficiency of the business and lower the electric bill.

A co-owner of Safari Restaurant, Sade Hashi, was confident in his decision to take advantage of the energy efficiency assistance provided by the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

El Nuevo Rodeo, a vibrant restaurant and events center, is nearly always busy serving authentic Mexican cuisine and hosting small and large events.

Miguel Zagal, owner of Taqueria La Hacienda, took advantage of the opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of his restaurant through the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

Starr Automotive, an auto repair shop located on East Lake Street in South Minneapolis, is one of several businesses that took advantage of the opportunity to reduce energy use and operation costs through the Small Business Energy Coaching Partnership, a jointly run program between the Lake Street Council and the Chamber of Commerce Energy Smart Program.

With tax day, it’s no wonder that Minnesota and the nation recognize April as Financial Capability Month. It’s a great reminder for us that one of the best ways to save money is by saving energy!

There are many basic no- and low-cost measures you can take to reduce energy use, cutting your utility bill and putting more money in your pocket.

With the Made in Minnesota solar thermal rebate still available, we spoke with Jason Edens, Director of the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL), to learn about an eligible technology, SolarWall.

While other solar thermal technologies are still available in Minnesota, SolarWall is the only one that is actively being manufactured. All others are simply drawing down existing inventory.

A random selection of applicants for the 2016 Made in Minnesota (MIM) Solar PV Incentive Program was completed this month, and 393 new residential and commercial solar electric (PV) systems were chosen to receive funding in the 10-year program’s third year.

A recent month-long campaign in Minnesota drove a ten-fold increase in Nissan Leaf sales at a single dealership.

Yes. You read that correctly, ten times as many sold as usual! Kline Nissan in Maplewood, MN sold 41 Nissan Leafs in March 2016, way up from their average volume of four vehicles per month.

Andersen Corporation recently announced that it has signed subscription agreements for up to 19 megawatts (MW) of solar power through Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Communities solar garden program. Established by the Minnesota state legislature in 2013, the program allows customers of the State’s investor-owned utilities to receive a share of electricity output from a community solar system.

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The Steve Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) honors Steve Hansen, a brilliant educator who taught thousands of students in Wisconsin about the importance of renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and earth stewardship.