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Community Energy Ambassador Story

Finding my place in Minnesota’s clean energy movement

April 2025

By Hemangi Salunke

Salunke a few years ago in India, holding her graduate diploma.

As an international student from India living in Minnesota, there’s a lot to learn! Since I arrived in the United States just seven months ago, I have been working to transition into the practice field of sustainability and environmental policy in Minnesota.

My name is Hemangi and in Sanskrit, my name means a state of spiritual transformation where an individual's energy becomes more refined, radiant, and permeated. I could not resonate with my name’s meaning while transitioning into the world of clean energy until I came across the Clean Energy Resource Teams’ Community Energy Ambassadors program! By the end of this program, I gained confidence in my understanding of how energy systems and community operations work in the U.S.

Prior to being a master’s candidate at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, I had established an academic and professional working background in architecture and real estate development in India. Yet, like many, I was still unsure of the distinction between clean energy and renewable energy. However, as I began my training with CERTs, it equipped me with the knowledge and tools to help activate my new community with clean energy solutions. 

Why I joined

Salunke sits in a boat on a lake.

Being an architect, I have always been partial towards digging in more about the subject of building utilities. I knew I wanted to join when I realized this program allowed me to learn more about this subject while also juggling coursework and other obligations! The Community Energy Ambassadors training in its finest aspect is flexible with the self-directed online training. This is a perfect option for working professionals and busy students to access training content at any time, and to review information even after the course has been completed.

Had it not been for the incredible content and mentors, overcoming the challenge of comprehending the intricacies of incentives and funding models in a foreign nation would have been super difficult for me. 

What I learned

The training broke down complicated energy topics into six understandable pieces: community engagement, project finance, energy efficiency, heat pumps, solar energy production and storage, and ending with basic information about electric vehicles. 

The United States has a multi-layered strategy to its energy systems, melding together federal, state, and local efforts. This training gave me a formalized and practical way to:

  • Learn about the Inflation Reduction Act and what it means for communities.
  • Witness firsthand how sustainability projects are shaped in Minnesota.
  • Acquire insightful knowledge on clean energy financing, technology, and implementation.

Next I aim to pursue a career in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) consulting, and this experience has significantly influenced my perspective. It has strengthened my desire to participate in real-world sustainability efforts — a critical skill for ESG professionals. I now have a better understanding of how private and profit-driven companies can work on tangible contributions to sustainability goals (the “Environmental” in ESG), how they can enhance their community engagement efforts (the “Social” in ESG), and the importance of translating complex policies and funding mechanisms into actionable knowledge for citizens, fostering trust in public systems (the “Governance” in ESG).

"I am currently working on my Ambassador project, which is allowing me to take what I learned and combine it with my professional expertise!"

 - Hemangi Salunke

My Community Energy Ambassador project

Once you have gone through the training, you can change your learning into doing by becoming a "CERTified" Community Energy Ambassador. To become fully CERTified, participants are asked  to develop and implement a clean energy project within their community.

The project is specific to you and can take many forms. For example:

  • Writing an article on a clean energy topic.
  • Organizing a community forum on clean energy and energy efficiency incentives.
  • Speaking at a local school, workplace, or event to raise awareness.
  • Engaging local businesses to explore energy conservation projects.
  • Implementing a project in your own home, business, or community.

I am currently working on my project, which is allowing me to take what I learned and combine it with my professional expertise! My project focuses on how to optimally utilize terrace spaces for the purpose of agrivoltaics. Specifically, using the same land for both solar energy production and agriculture, here in the Twin Cities! 

https://environment.umn.edu/leadership/susted/conferences-events/sustainability-symposium/

I was recently honored to present this idea at the Humphrey School’s 2025 State of the School Address. (I have also been shortlisted to present it at the Sustainability Symposium - Institute on the Environment. Fingers crossed!)

Now that I look back, I started the ambassador program not knowing exactly what clean energy and renewable energy even were. Today I know so much more than a list of facts. In this highly competitive industry, the program helps me build skills of reporting literacy and problem-solving. I foresee a unique growth for myself as I continue navigating cultural dynamics and tailoring messaging for varied demographics. I believe this will compliment my efforts to build connections with professionals, policymakers, nonprofits, and community leaders in the energy and sustainability sectors. 

Having learned how important local action can be in reaching big sustainability goals, I'm eager to be a part of Minnesota's clean energy future. If you're seeking an avenue to engage in sustainability, develop your clean energy knowledge, or create a visible difference in your community, I would strongly endorse this program. Join the Community Energy Ambassadors program and help shape Minnesota’s clean energy future!

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