Tools & Guides

• by Topic
• by Audience

Questions about the Inflation Reduction Act? 

Check out our guide

Workforce & Training

Consider a Career in the Clean Energy Industry

The industry is growing quickly, and jobs along with it. Learn about clean energy careers and training.

Download Inflation Reduction Act Materials

Biomass

Project Ideas

Biomass Energy Options

Farmers can gain a valuable new outlet for their products while communities can use locally-grown crops and residues for heat and power.

Community Planning

GreenStep Program

Best Practices for Cities & Tribal Nations

Electric Vehicles

Electrify your Ride

Choosing an Electric Vehicle

There is now an electric vehicle for just about every need: compact, SUV, van, and more. See your options!

Charge Up

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Wondering what’s happening in Minnesota to expand charging locations and how you can take part? We’ll get you plugged in.

Cities Charging Ahead

Electrify Fleets & Support Charging

Electrifying your local government's vehicle fleets can be an excellent way to save money and meet your sustainability goals. Let’s go!

Energy Efficiency

101

Energy Assessment & Benchmarking

Right Light Guides

Find Energy Efficient Lights

101

Home Energy Guides & Tips

Heat Pump Advice

Ask Alexis

NON PROFIT AND BUSINESS SUPPORT

Clean Energy Resources for Food Shelves

Free resources and custom project assistance for your food shelf to pursue energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Saving Watts & Drops

Distributing Energy Saving Products

CERTs helps you distribute energy and water saving products like sprayers, aerators, showerheads, LED bulbs, and power strips.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Efficiently Heat and Cool with Electricity

Train the Trainer

Energy Coaching for Small Businesses

This report is intended to detail the model and lessons learned from the Small Business Energy Coaching pilot project so that utilities, energy efficiency service providers, non-profit organization

Project Ideas

Energy Saving Equipment on the Farm

From lights and fans to pumps and motors, from crop dryers to irrigation systems, there are many opportunities to save energy on the farm.

Weatherization

Free Energy Improvements for Qualified Households

Local service providers offer home energy assessments and improvements to income-qualified households

UNDER 5%

Reducing the Energy Burden for all Minnesota Families

Let's reduce the energy burden of all Minnesotans to under 5% of their household income by 2025.

Energy Storage

Project Ideas

Adding Energy Storage into your Projects

Energy Storage can be an excellent addition to clean energy projects to avoid demand charges or add resiliency.

Geothermal

Project Ideas

Geothermal in Minnesota

Geothermal, or ground-source heating and cooling, uses the temperature of the earth and a pump to heat and cool buildings.

Grants & Financing

PACE

Financing for Businesses & Organizations

Pay for energy work through property assessments.

Paying for it

Utility Rebates & Tax Incentives

There are federal, state, utility, and other incentives that help buy down the cost of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Catalyzing funds for communities

CERTs Seed Grants

Keep heat on

Cold Weather Rule & Shut-Off Protections

Cold winters can lead to high heating costs for Minnesota households. Here's what you need to know to keep your power on.

Help with bills

Energy Assistance Program

The Energy Assistance Program helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households

Rural Development

Grants for Farmers & Rural Businesses

The USDA supports clean energy projects in Greater MN through their REAP program.

LEEP & GESP

Performance Contracting for Public Facilities

Get assistance identifying, financing, and implementing energy maintenance, operations, and utilities savings measures.

Forgivable Loan

Rehabilitation Loan Program

Covers efficiency improvements for eligible homeowners. Forgiven if you do not sell, transfer, or move out during the loan.

Clean Energy Incentives

The Inflation Reduction Act: what you need to know

Grants & More

Tribal Nation Project Funding Opportunities

Federal agencies, including U.S. Dept. of Energy Office of Indian Energy, provide grant, loan, and assistance programs to support tribal energy projects.

Solar Energy

Go Solar

Community Solar Gardens

Subscribe to a community solar garden and get credits on your utility bill without installing a system of your own.

Solar Schools

Powering K-12 education with solar energy

Get step-by-step support for going solar at your school with tools, tips, financing, stories, and more.

Moving Forward

Public Solar Procurement

These tools and resources offer state agencies, local governments, schools & tribal nations resources to move forward with solar procurement.

101

Simple Steps to Solar

Solar App

Assess a Site for Solar Suitability

Use this mapping tool to find out if any location in Minnesota is a good site for solar.

SolSmart

Become designated as a solar-friendly community

Minnesota’s cities and counties can unlock the economic development benefits of solar energy by becoming designated through SolSmart.

Green Pricing

Buy Renewable Energy from Your Utility

Most utilities offer programs to buy wind or solar energy for a small premium as an easy way to be green.

Solar Directory

Find Solar Installers Working in Minnesota

Find solar installers to help with your next project and community solar providers offering subscriptions.

New Income

Lease your Land for Solar or Wind

Leasing your land for large solar arrays or wind turbines can be a new crop for your farm. Use this guide to learn more about getting a good deal.

MN Solar Pathways

Minnesota Solar Guide

Information and tools on a range of topics to support solar energy development in communities across the state.

Get Bids

Model RFP for Third-Party Solar

Third-party financing is an innovative tool for public entities to tap into long-term energy cost savings without requiring large up-front capital expenditures

Planning

Ordinances & Zoning for Solar

Find model ordinances for solar energy systems that you can use to establish new or improve existing rules for your jurisdiction.

Find Good Help

Questions to Ask Companies

Wondering what questions to ask companies you might work with on your next clean energy project? Here's a great starter list.

Farm & Business Support

Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota

Access tools and technical assistance to help your Greater Minnesota business or farm move forward with clean energy.

Documentary

The Power of Minnesota

This 18-minute film tells the stories of people who are building the clean energy economy that is powering Minnesota communities.

Wind Energy

Green Pricing

Buy Renewable Energy from Your Utility

Most utilities offer programs to buy wind or solar energy for a small premium as an easy way to be green.

New Income

Lease your Land for Solar or Wind

Leasing your land for large solar arrays or wind turbines can be a new crop for your farm. Use this guide to learn more about getting a good deal.

Planning

Ordinances & Zoning for Wind

Find model ordinances for wind energy systems that you can use to establish new or improve existing rules for your jurisdiction.

Project Ideas

Small Wind Energy Systems

A small wind turbine can lower your electricity bill and prevent power interruptions.

Documentary

The Power of Minnesota

This 18-minute film tells the stories of people who are building the clean energy economy that is powering Minnesota communities.

Policy, Alignment, and Business Scale

Wind Energy to Green Ammonia

Wind energy can produce “green” ammonia which can be used as a form of chemical energy storage, and many other potential uses like carbon-free fuel. 

Glossary of Clean Energy Terms

Questions about the Inflation Reduction Act? 

Check out our guide

	Businesses & Organizations  Tools to help your business or organization reduce costs and become more resilient. We offer special resources for rural small businesses and food shelves.
	Cities & Counties Understand your options, connect with your peers, and move forward.
	Farmers Find unique opportunities for saving energy and taking advantage of renewable energy resources like solar, wind, and biomass.
	Residents Unbiased resources, tools, guidance, connections, funding and financing opportunities, events, and stories to get your clean energy projects done.
	Schools There has never been a better time for Minnesota schools to take advantage of clean energy opportunities, including the Solar for Schools grant program.
	Tribal Nations Unbiased resources, tools, guidance, connections, funding and financing opportunities, events, and stories to get your projects done.
	Underserved Communities Make connections, find more resources and capacity, and explore innovative new programs and partnerships to reduce the burden of energy costs.
	Utilities Add support and value to the services utilities already deliver to customers.