Today is a great day to get connected with others who are moving the needle on clean energy efforts in Minnesota. Check out our events calendar for all the clean and green things happening across the state: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/events
Remember, you can make Earth🌎 Day, every day!
Nice to hear about UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership's work on resilience hubs!
buff.ly/GiMtE2P
So many resilience hub projects happening across the state:@mnipl.bsky.social, Mpls American Indian Center, @ecolibrium3.bsky.social, Sabathani Community Center, & City of Long Beach MN, to name a few!
Dodge County’s Renovation ReUse Center is a great example of how partnerships and persistence can make an idea turn into a high-impact project for a community.
Thanks to Noah Knapp from the Association of Minnesota Counties for sharing his story with MN TA Collaborative and CERTs!
"We look forward to starting a preventive maintenance program with the material we received and ensuring our homes are sealed up from the elements and critters that northern Minnesota is known for." - Robbie Googleye, Bois Forte Maintenance Director
Fixing up older housing stock is ongoing work. In 2020, Bois Forte received a CERTs Seed Grant to do just that. 6 years later, it was clear they could use more materials. As the Tribe celebrated becoming the 150th GreenStep Community they also found a way to update homes:
On April 29 the MN Department of Commerce will host a webinar to share more about how Save Energy Minnesota works with community organizations across the state to help residents save energy and reduce costs. energy efficiency and home upgrade rebates for residents.
Register: mn.gov/commerce/ene...
What happens when you bring together 75 members of the CERTs community for a full day of conversation about community-based clean energy? We decided to find out. buff.ly/r0EJKLr
We’re proud to recognize @greatriverenergy.bsky.social’s support for this year's Metro CERT Annual Event as a Gigawatt-level sponsor. We've partnered with them over the years and are grateful for their continued support. See you on 4/30: buff.ly/rU1w7ov
Help us welcome Gigi Otten! She recently joined CERTs + RSDP as Sustainability Storyteller, bringing with her a background in public service & a passion for connecting Minnesotans with reliable, straightforward resources. We look forward to sharing her work with you soon!
MN Dept of Commerce is offering up to $20K to local MN govts that adopt the FREE software (SolarAPP+) to standardize, automate, & streamline the review & permitting process for solar. Applications are awarded first-come, first-serve until funds are fully expended or until 6/30/28.
Have a project idea?
The Empowering Small MN Communities program is a community-centered collaboration with the UMN to support small communities in becoming well-positioned to benefit from federal, state, & local investments.
Interested in participating in the program?
MN Electric School Bus Grant application deadline 6/18!
This program provides funding for Minnesota districts to deploy electric school buses to serve their students. Share with your school districts: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/electric-sch...
We’re already halfway through Earth Month! If you’re looking for inspiration to help you make an impact or to just try something new, we’ve got you covered. Read on, and send me a note about your Earth Month adventures!
mailchi.mp/cleanenergyr...
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright assured members of the House Appropriations Committee that his agency is completing its review of the Home Energy Rebate programs and that funds could be released in a matter of “weeks.”
building-performance.org/doe-home-ene...
Many thanks to @minneapolismn.gov for sponsoring our Metro CERT 2026 Annual Event and helping to keep it accessible for all attendees! Register now: www.eventbrite.com/e/metro-cert...
Bharat Balyan, resiliency hub project coordinator for @minneapolismn.gov, will be one of our featured speakers at the Metro CERT Annual Event, helping to lead our fireside conversation on how clean energy can foster community resilience and vice versa! www.eventbrite.com/e/metro-cert...
Metro CERT has partnered with @minneapolismn.gov in a myriad of ways over our 20+ year history including facilitating grant review processes for the city’s Green Zones and Green Cost Share programs: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/story/minnea...
We’re honored to have the @minneapolismn.gov as a Gigawatt-level sponsor for our 2026 Metro CERT Annual Event on April 30! www.eventbrite.com/e/metro-cert...
“It drives like a Mercedes compared to our regular rigs! It has all-wheel drive, a dual-motor traction drive system & can handle the potholes. The torque makes it easier to maneuver quickly through traffic. The engine is super responsive & the steering & suspension are 2nd to none.” buff.ly/uYipuyJ
Trivia: Which Minnesota city was the first in the state to acquire an electric fire engine?
Our Co-Director Diana McKeown (child of a firefighter and electric vehicle extraordinaire) got to ride along last summer and ask all the nerdy questions you want to know!
Help us show some gratitude to the organizations who stepped up and sponsored this year's Metro CERT Annual Event! Thanks to @minneapolismn.gov & @greatriverenergy.bsky.social, our Gigawatt sponsors, for helping to keep this event free for all to attend:
buff.ly/JfVgaOl
Up to $20K available to local government across MN for adoption of the Solar Automated Permit Processing+ application, a web-based platform that automates solar permitting. First come, first served with monthly reviews of RFPs.
mn.gov/commerce/ene...
The city of Bemidji officially received funding to advance two projects adding solar arrays to five city locations: the water treatment facility, the Sanford Center, Fire Station 2, the Neilson Reise Arena, and the City Park Warming House.
“SUN provides an innovative example for how folks can band together to get solar installed in their communities. We’re excited to see this opportunity in north central Minnesota!” -Joel Haskard, co-director of CERTs
www.walkermn.com/news/region-...
“We were hopeful that the projects would qualify for the tax credit... Now that the funding is secured, it opens up a world of possibilities for strategic, one-time capital investments that will benefit our students and staff for years to come.”
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/geothermal/m...
What's your plan this Earth Month?
Curious about geothermal or battery storage? buff.ly/bYWiuMn
Looking for ways to save energy at your nonprofit? buff.ly/ol7k3mI
Maybe an e-school bus is in your district's future? buff.ly/utlNp1e
Plus many more ways you can honor Earth Month:
Is your state working to legalize plug-in balcony solar? Here’s a status update.
4/10 deadline: MN DNR is accepting membership applications for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council:
Join Jacob Selseth and Colby Abazs from CERTs on April 7 for an overview of geothermal and battery storage technologies, along with federal, state, and utility incentives: buff.ly/24GEhzA
Join CERTs for a Morris community energy event, April 16. Learn from neighbors who live with heat pumps and get all your questions answered. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about heat pumps, rebates, and more energy efficiency resources. Join us:
buff.ly/1xbWtqE