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Home , Efficient energy use

Highlighting The Past, Energizing The Future

How can some of the $13 billion Minnesotans annually spend on be kept in our local communities? By creating new economic opportunity. Citizens from around the state have developed a bold vision for Minnesota's energy future, through greater energy efficiency and production from clean 21st Century technologies including , wind, , and solar. Their vision is becoming a reality, one Plan and is implementing their project at a time. The Clean Energy project priorities. The Metropolitan Resource Teams (CERTs) project, Counties Energy THE PURPOSE launched in 2003, is connecting citi- Task Force direct- zens with the technical resources they ed its attention OF CERTS IS need to identify and implement com- toward energy TO ENGAGE munity-scale energy efficiency and efficiency in CITIZENS IN clean energy projects. buildings and ENERGY spent its time on PLANNING. The Clean Energy Resource Teams are recommissioning very diverse — individuals as well as projects to learn more about opportu- small business owners, farmers, mem- nities to reduce . bers of environmental groups, local utility representatives, local, state and Connecting people with similar inter- federal government staff and elected ests has already made new clean ener- leaders, academics — but they share gy projects possible. Academics found common goals and values. They want meaningful projects for students and strong communities, local jobs, and ways to pilot inventions. Local utilities secure, clean, reliable energy. found creative allies for efficiency and new renewable projects. Schools and Each team has done a careful assess- local governments found ways to cut ment of the energy and human energy costs and educate communi- resources in the region and developed ties. Farmers and area businesses a Regional Strategic Clean Energy made connections that will help them CERTS PROJECT solve waste problems and become systems, which OUTCOMES energy producers. cuts energy use by 2/3. Area utilities • Convene Clean Energy IT STARTS WITH EFFICIENCY want to participate, and the CERT is Resource Teams in each developing a cost calculator and of seven Minnesota regions CERTs in the Northeast, West Central, connecting utilities to developers, with a range of Central, Metro, and Southwest will heating contractors and remodelers. stakeholders focus on technologies and practices for greater energy efficiency in schools BIOFUELS FOR CLEAN AIR • Perform Regional Resource Inventories to examine and local government buildings. These Increasing local use of and current energy usage and cost-cutting innovations will impact makes sense across the state. resources the whole community. Connecting A survey and simple follow-up with in the region efficient energy use with curriculum in county engineers resulted in doubling • Develop Regional Strategic schools will prepare the next genera- biodiesel use in 15 Southwest counties Energy Plans that highlight tion of innovators and consumers. through identified opportunities. The each region’s top energy Southeast CERT will use that model, Southeast and Northeast CERTs are priorities and hopes friendly competition will giving presentations to several civic increase use further. The Northeast • Implement Select organizations, and the other regions Projects including both CERT team is working to increase are engaging citizens with tours and conservation/energy biodiesel use in school buses, reduc- workshops. Community wide pro- efficiency projects ing pollution for both children and grams, like a successful CERT small and renewable energy communities. projects business lighting program in Winona, will increase productivity for area The Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-op businesses. in Little Falls will soon be powered completely with waste wood and New buildings can be energy smart, biomass — making a renewable fuel and members of the Central CERT are from a renewable fuel. The Central working with builders in the region to CERT team is highlighting the ethanol use the best designs and materials. A plant's pioneering , and hopes to building boom is in full swing there, spread the model around the state. and energy efficient technologies put into place now will make a difference BIOMASS IS CUTTING EDGE TE CHNOLOGY for years to come. Minnesota has ample biomass The Northwest region is hit hard by resources, waste wood, crop residues, high winter fuel costs and the volatili- and dedicated energy crops, but ty in . They are focusing on large-scale projects have been difficult CERTs Member Snapshot: to make work financially. Northwest can replace natural gas or generate Business Representatives CERT is breaking new ground by . The Northwest CERT is City and County Staff helping a University of North Dakota learning about the potential for turn- Economic Developers research lab pilot an onsite biomass ing food processing waste into fuel for Educators and Researchers gasifier. This small power plant on a factories. The West Central team is Farmers flatbed truck could help area wood working with others across the region Foundation Representatives products businesses mitigate waste to explore community digesters. They Entrepreneurs problems and power their operations are working closely with a community Individuals Interested in Energy Issues at the same time. energy project in Morris that includes Legislators and Legislative a large area dairy, and cosponsored a Central and West Central CERTs also Staff biomass conference with the hope to support local biomass initia- Media Professionals Kandiyohi County Ag Committee, tives. To that end, CERTs is partnering Municipal, Cooperative and also exploring pairing community Invester-Owned Utility with the Agricultural Utilization food wastes with manure from Representatives Research Institute and the Minnesota expanding dairies. Nonprofits Department of Commerce to establish Resource Conservation and a biomass exchange website. SOLAR MAKES SENSE IN Development Council MINNESOTA Representatives CAN BE EXPANDED State and Federal Agency is still expensive, but Demonstration projects prove that Employees technological advances are bringing manure can be turned into gas that Tribal Representatives

REGIONAL CERT PROJECT PRIORITIES Northwest: Mobile biogasifier to generate electricity from waste wood, create geothermal heating fuel comparison calculator and promote geothermal to cut home heating costs, biogas at food processing plants. Northeast: Energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy in schools and communities in each county. Central: Energy smart buildings, solar, local biomass. West Central: Community energy projects incorporating energy efficiency, biomass, biogas, and wind. Southwest: Local ownership of renewable energy (current emphasis on wind), increased use of biofuels, energy efficiency Southeast: Wind development – opportunities w/in transmission system (large & small), energy efficiency, outreach & education, convert existing facilities to biomass Metro: Cutting energy use in county buildings For More Information: Lola Schoenrich costs down and Minnesota is as sunny helping the Southeast CERT identify The Minnesota Project as Florida. Several teams are making places in their region where small 651.645.6159 ext.4 connections and highlighting demon- wind systems can interconnect. CERTs [email protected] strations to accelerate solar adoption. across the state will be building on the Melissa S.B. Pawlisch Central CERT is partnering with an work of both of these regions. University of Minnesota area nonprofit, which is installing Regional Sustainable COMMUNITY ENERGY solar hot water heaters for low-income Development Partnerships SYSTEMS POWER CIVIC 612.624.2293 consumers. The Northeast CERT is ENGAGEMENT [email protected] partnering on Minnesota Power's solar Everyone in a community has energy installer trainings and demonstration CERTs Partners: needs, and many businesses have Minnesota Department of projects by the City of Duluth. Commerce, The Minnesota waste products that could be used for Project, University of LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF power. Morris and the West Central Minnesota Regional WINDPOWER CREATES CERT are trying something new. What ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY if leaders came together to pair needs Partnerships, Rural Minnesota Energy Board, Metropolitan CERTs members all over the state with opportunities through careful Counties , share the goal of creating opportuni- study and dialogue? How much of Resource Conservation and ties for local ownership and energy the community power needs could be Development Councils independence. Farmer-owned biofuels met with local resources? The commu- Funded by: The Legislative Commission on cooperatives and locally-owned wind nity, along with the West Central Minnesota Resources from the developments return more to the local Research and Outreach Station, and U.S. Department of Energy Oil Overcharge Money, The Carolyn economy and create opportunities the University of Minnesota-Morris is Foundation, The Blandin for community participation in finding out. They are pairing wind Foundation, Minnesota Department of Commerce, U.S. decision-making. and production with bio- Department of Energy, University mass , and perhaps a of Minnesota Initiative for Southwest CERT is pioneering finan- community biogas digester. Renewable Energy and the cial, legal, policy, and regulatory mod- Environment, University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable els for locally-owned wind. Their suc- CERTs has pulled together hundreds Development Partnerships, cesses are fueling interest by farmers of local people in person and hun- University of Minnesota, Morris Center for Small Towns and businesses all over Minnesota and dreds more electronically for initial nationally. The Metropolitan Counties planning and implementation. The Energy Task Force passed a resolution next phase is putting significant clean in support of wind development work local power and energy efficiency to by the Rural Minnesota Energy Board. work, for the benefit of Minnesota and A study of the transmission system is local communities.

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