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By Lissa Pawlisch    January 5th, 2016
The Clean Energy Resource Teams are excited to announce 39 Seed Grant awards to organizations in the seven Minnesota CERT regions. Each region awarded around $20,000 worth of grants, catalyzing energy efficiency and renewable energy across the state. CERTs has awarded over $1 million in Seed Grants to 269 projects since 2006. Continue reading to explore a map of projects and see details about each of the grants. To learn more about past funded projects, visit our CERTs Seed Grants page. Download a PDF with all projects >> Announcing MNCERTs</a> 2016 Seed Grant... Continue reading
By Aleta Kolan    January 4th, 2016
For the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) program, the last few months of 2015 included two successful Fall Summits, welcoming two new YES! Coordinators, reconnecting with a YES! alumna, and more.   Fall Summits a success   The air was electric with the excitement of 240 students and coaches at the 8th annual Fall Summit, held at Saint John’s University on September 30th. This excitement was echoed two weeks later on October 14th as 76 students and coaches attended the 2nd annual Northeastern YES! Fall Summit at Laurentian Environmental Center. At both events staff from... Continue reading
By Frank Jossi    December 23rd, 2015
This post was originally published in Midwest Energy News by Frank Jossi. Community solar developers in Minnesota are breathing a sigh of relief over the renewal of the investment tax credit in the recent federal budget deal. Passed by Congress and signed by the president, the budget extends the 30 percent solar tax credit for three years before gradually decreasing it to 10 percent in 2022. Had the extension not been granted the tax credit would have dropped to 10 percent in 2017, a prospect that would likely have killed many solar projects across the region and the nation. “... Continue reading
By Michelle Palm    December 17th, 2015
The City of Red Wing, a town of 17,000 people, has been very busy in the last couple years saving energy with efficiency measures and adding solar PV to city facilities. They’re also a Step 2 member of the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. Since 2011, with 12 buildings in B3, Red Wing has seen a 55% decrease in their carbon footprint! Specifically, Red Wing has LED street lights going up; has done updates to city hall, auditorium, and the library, and... Continue reading
By Dan Thiede    December 17th, 2015
Local company Innovative Power Systems will start installing solar panels along the Green Line corridor in Saint Paul, next month, adding to several other projects in the city. The developer is building the facilities on four commercial rooftops. The Green Line solar project is within the Energy Innovation Corridor, an initiative promoting sustainable energy and transportation. “Our company is committed to advancing renewable energy in the state, and we’re pleased that the corridor will benefit from the value of solar,” said Ralph Jacobson, the CEO of Innovative Power. “We’ve supported... Continue reading
By Lissa Pawlisch    December 17th, 2015
Solar power has never been more affordable or easier to install, and that’s why the the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has come together with communities, solar manufacturers and installers, financing providers, and more to bring a series of Solar Power Hours to Minnesota. MREA works with these community partners to offer one-hour seminars—called Solar Power Hours—to educates homeowners, small business owners, and farmers on the benefits of solar energy. Attendees will learn how PV systems work, the financial benefits they provide, describe the solar... Continue reading

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