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Year in Review

How did CERTs serve Minnesota communities in 2020?

Relationships & Impacts

By Lissa Pawlisch

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.

People at a ribbon-cutting ceremony
November 2020

Video: Students drive solar adoption at Mounds View Public Schools

roger solar
October 2020

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

jennyffer and natalia
October 2020

Video: Empowering families with energy kits and guidance

with ashp
December 2020

A family’s journey to decarbonize their home

matters
October 2020

Rebuilding Green on Lake Street in Minneapolis

solar roof
October 2020

Building solar block by block

August 2020

Increasing opportunities in the clean energy revolution

ev campsite
August 2020

A family’s tour of Minnesota State Parks goes electric

cozy home
September 2020

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

student team
September 2020

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

MiEnergy Cooperative staff and member
July 2020

MiEnergy Electric Co-op midway through residential energy storage pilot

maud borup
November 2020

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

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 energy efficiency and renewable energy jobs in Minnesota

Consider a Career in the Clean Energy Industry

Simple Steps to Solar

Powering K-12 education with clean energy

Public Solar Procurement

PACE Financing for Businesses & Organizations

Home Energy Guides & Tips

Air Source Heat Pumps

Minnesota Solar Guide

Electrify Fleets & Support Charging

Find Solar Installers Working in Minnesota

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.