Clean Energy Resource Teams

Fields and Forests 2026 Solar Co-op - Solar United Neighbors Portable solar panels that plug into any outlet — no roof, no contractor, no red tape. Help make plug-in solar legal in your state.

MN residents in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties are welcome to join the SUN Fields and Forests Solar Coop by July 31. Visit their website for upcoming info sessions: solarunitedneighbors.org/co-ops/minne...

Lakes and Prairies 2026 Solar Co-op - Solar United Neighbors Portable solar panels that plug into any outlet — no roof, no contractor, no red tape. Help make plug-in solar legal in your state.

MN residents in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties are welcome to join the SUN Lakes and Prairies Solar Coop by May 31. Visit their website for upcoming info sessions: solarunitedneighbors.org/co-ops/minne...

Solar co-op forms for north central Minnesota The co-op is an opportunity for homeowners and small businesses in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties to learn about solar energy and if it is right for them.

"SUN provides an innovative example for how folks can band together to get solar installed in their communities," says CERTs' Joel Haskard.
See how their co-op model works for residents:
www.brainerddispatch.com/news/local/s...

Coming up on Thursday, 3/12, spread the word!

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council membership application period is now open. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on April 10.

MN DNR is accepting applications for membership on the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council, due 4/10: www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/enr...

Minnesota GreenCorps The Minnesota GreenCorps program, coordinated by the MPCA, aims to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals.

Apply to host a MN GreenCorps member during the 2026-27 program year by March 24.

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council membership application period is now open. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on April 10.

Looking for a way to make recommendations on funding that supports MN's environment and natural resources? Join the advisory council for ENRTF Community Grants! Apply by April 10:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/enr...

Balcony solar is taking state legislatures by storm In more than half of U.S. states, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that would boost adoption of DIY solar systems.

Balcony solar is taking off across the country. Here’s which states are considering bills to allow for the plug-in clean energy solution.

Food Retail Improvement and Development Grants (FRIDG): Retailer Equipment and Infrastructure | Minnesota Department of Agriculture The Food Retail Improvement and Development Grant (FRIDG) Program, formerly known as the

The @mnagriculture.bsky.social's Food Retail Improvement and Development Grant application is due March 10 (formerly known as the Good Food Access Program): buff.ly/JsnrPPe
Find more funding for clean energy projects at Pay for Your Projects: buff.ly/8pytSkr

Balcony solar is taking state legislatures by storm In more than half of U.S. states, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that would boost adoption of DIY solar systems.

Plug-in solar is already booming in Europe. As many as 4 million households in Germany have installed the systems, which people can order through Ikea.
But in the U.S., outside of Utah, the tech is stuck in regulatory limbo. www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

Energy & Community Resiliency Grants — Initiative Foundation The Initiative Foundation supports Central Minnesota nonprofits with budgets of $1 million or less. Capacity-building grants are designed to strengthen organizations that lift up local economies,…

The Initiative Foundation's Energy and Community Resiliency Grant application is due April 13 and can be used for energy efficiency upgrades, clean energy adoption and resiliency planning: buff.ly/oRyFw5l
Find more funding for clean energy projects at Pay for Your Projects: buff.ly/8pytSkr

CSFS: Equipment/vehicle replacement grant Through this Minnesota climate smart food systems (CSFS) grant, the MPCA seeks project proposals to partially fund new, cleaner versions of fossil fuel on-road and off-road equipment and vehicles in…

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s equipment and vehicle replacement grant application is due March 27: buff.ly/HjlvcpD

Find more funding for clean energy projects at Pay for Your Projects: buff.ly/8pytSkr

2026 Solar for Schools grant application: New incentive rates The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources seeks applications from qualified Minnesota schools for the Solar for Schools Grant Program.

MN Department of Commerce’s Solar for Schools Grant Readiness Assessment is due March 2, with new incentive rates this year: buff.ly/at6P6R5
Find more funding for clean energy projects at Pay for Your Projects: buff.ly/8pytSkr

The Growing Experiment Of Putting Solar Panels On Farmland Agrivoltaics combines solar panels and agriculture on the same land. It’ll be an uphill battle for it to hit the mainstream.

Have you heard, "flocks of sheep are the easiest plug-and-play option into the most common type of solar design" when it comes to agrivolatics? Where's a meme when you need it?
www.sciencefriday.com/segments/agr...

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council membership application period is now open. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on April 10.

MN DNR is accepting applications for membership on the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program Advisory Council, due 4/10: www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/enr...

Chart: US to overwhelmingly build clean power in 2026 A federal agency says solar, battery, and wind additions will vastly outpace new gas facilities in what’s set to be a record year for power plant…

Chart of the week from @canarymedia.com is giving us hope, once again!
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...

Join the advisory council for ENRTF Community Grants! Apply by April 10:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/enr...

Gigantic Form Energy battery to power Google data center in Minnesota The startup has struck a deal with Xcel Energy to build a 30 gigawatt-hour battery plant that will deliver clean energy, round the clock, to a Google…

"What shoots this project into the energy-storage stratosphere is that it will dispatch energy for up to 100 hours straight — enough to pump clean energy through multiday weather patterns that would limit renewable production." @canarymedia.com
www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat...

Powering K-12 education with clean energy Get support for saving energy and money at your school.

MN Solar for Schools readiness assessments are due 3/2.
Join the +150 schools across the state who power their education with solar energy! Find out how CERTs can help you get started:
www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/solarschools

A solar + battery powered fish house makes ice fishing free and easy for families A local nonprofit and a hardware store in Crookston have teamed up to provide families with free access to a solar-powered with battery storage fish house on the Red Lake River.

In Crookston, Minn., a nonprofit and a hardware store teamed up to provide free access to a solar-powered with battery storage fish house on the Red Lake River!

E-bikes for business grant The MPCA is offering approximately $135,000 in grant funding to help Minnesota businesses and organizations purchase bicycles and electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) for commercial use.

The @mnpca.bsky.social e-bikes for business grant application deadline is extended to Feb. 27: buff.ly/Br4GzhO
Find more funding for clean energy projects at Pay for Your Projects: buff.ly/8pytSkr

Vergas: A central Minnesota town takes bold steps toward a resilient future Did you know? The City of Vergas has launched one of the most comprehensive resilience and energy projects currently underway in rural Minnesota. The small, central MN town is using data,…

The story of Vergas shows how a small town can use data, partnerships, & commitment to build something transformative, proving that innovation does not depend on population size. It depends on the willingness & capacity to pursue answers to big questions, like “Why not us?”

CERTs February Coffee Chat Curious about battery storage? Join CERTs and fellow Community Energy Ambassadors for a conversation exploring battery storage at the utility, residential, and business/organization scales!

Don't miss our 2/26 Coffee Chat with Colby Abazs from CERTs and Aaron Hanson from the Institute on the Environment. They’ll share insights on how battery storage works and how it’s being deployed in Minnesota.

Vergas: A central Minnesota town takes bold steps toward a resilient future Did you know? The City of Vergas has launched one of the most comprehensive resilience and energy projects currently underway in rural Minnesota. The small, central MN town is using data,…

“The City of Vergas emphasizes how a small town can do more with less. A core part of the motivation for the city was so they could see their actions replicated in other places like Vergas.” - Heidi Auel, Central CERT coordinator

Energy CENTS Coalition, in partnership with @cubmn.bsky.social, are launching a fund to provide support to Minnesotans struggling with utility bills.
Support the Lights On, Homes Warm fund with a donation today: bit.ly/UtilityBillFundMN #LightsOnHomesWarmMN

Vergas: A central Minnesota town takes bold steps toward a resilient future Did you know? The City of Vergas has launched one of the most comprehensive resilience and energy projects currently underway in rural Minnesota. The small, central MN town is using data,…

Did you know the City of Vergas has launched one of the most comprehensive resilience and energy projects currently underway in rural Minnesota?? The small, central MN town is using data, partnerships and commitment to build something transformative!

Energy CENTS Coalition, in partnership with @cubmn.bsky.social, are launching a fund to provide support to Minnesotans struggling with utility bills.
Support the Lights On, Homes Warm fund with a donation today: bit.ly/UtilityBillFundMN #LightsOnHomesWarmMN

CERTs February Coffee Chat Curious about battery storage? Join CERTs and fellow Community Energy Ambassadors for a conversation exploring battery storage at the utility, residential, and business/organization scales!

Join us on 2/26 for a Coffee Chat all about battery storage in Minnesota. Colby Abazs from CERTs and Aaron Hanson from the Institute on the Environment will share insights on how battery storage works and how it’s being deployed.

Check out these induction cooking kits from the Anoka County Library! Beginning in February 2025, patrons of the Anoka County Library’s eight member branches might have noticed a new and mysterious canvas tote bag among their library’s cookware and hobby collections.…

Sustainable Resources Center partnered with the Anoka County Library to offer induction cooking kits as part of the library system’s cookware collection. This program has helped people discover the benefits of induction cooking with the kit already being checked out over 100 times:

Electric school buses bringing cleaner, quieter rides to rural MN - MinnPost Minnesota now has just 19 electric school buses, but more than 20 districts are waiting on deliveries, some by the 2026-2027 school year.

“We’ve tried to tie (the buses) into the tribal mission and values of protecting our lakes and woodlands,” Red Lake District Business Manager Willie Larson says & students have so far shown more regard for the electric buses — the seats remain free of doodles nearly two years in!