MN Energy Stories Blog from CERTs

Iron Range Earth Fest: Three generations celebrate a sustainable economy, environment, and community

Bill Mittlefehldt — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:57:26 +0000

On April 21, folks gathered at the annual Iron Range Earth Fest. This community event brought together three generations of Rangers. Their purpose was to learn more about building a sustainable economy, environment, and community—and to connect with one another. These energetic citizens actively enjoyed their day-long interaction in Mt. Iron!

Looking to get a project off the ground? Apply for a Seed Grant from CERTs!

Lissa Pawlisch — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:51:14 +0000

Do you and your community need funding to get an energy efficiency or renewable energy project off the ground? The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) can help! Each of our seven regional teams are looking to seed innovative, community-based clean energy projects, and yours could be the perfect fit.

Family FACE-OFF: Unplugged in the Great Outdoors

Jeff Vetsch — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:25:54 +0000

I took the family camping last week to Frontenac State Park on the bluffs above the Mississippi River near Red Wing. Before having children, my wife and I used to go backpack camping and would bring along as little as possible. Now it seems like we bring everything but the kitchen sink. We used to make fun of people like us, but having a high chair for Hazel frees up our hands to do something other than chase after a two year old, if only temporarily (Hey, at least we are past the Pack N Play stage).

Save the Date: CERTs 2013 Conference will be held February 20-21 in St. Cloud!

Dan Thiede — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:04:34 +0000

Before your calendar starts filling up for February 2013, we want to make sure you mark off February 20-21, 2013 (a Wednesday and Thursday) so that you can join us for the fifth biennial Clean Energy Resource Teams statewide conference!

Family FACE-OFF: Putting on our game faces

Jeff Vetsch — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:35:19 +0000

Greetings! My name is Jeff Vetsch and from Earth Day 2012 until Earth Day 2013 my family is taking part in a Family Energy FACE-OFF. We will be highlighting our successes and asking others to join us as we continue to look for ways to reduce our home energy use. We hail from New London and are calling ourselves the Mill Pond Minimizers (the pond we live on in town).

Resources and networking the focus of Metro CERT's fifth annual spring event

Julia Eagles — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:54:31 +0000

Over 100 community members from around the Metro region gathered for Metro CERT’s fifth annual spring resource and networking event on Wednesday, April 18th, 2012! We heard from several presenters who had great ideas and resources to share. Attendees—representing community groups, local governments, businesses, partner organizations, utility companies and state agencies—ate and mingled for the last hour of the event.

Teams of Minnesota families face off to save energy and money in their homes

Dan Thiede — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:49 +0000

From Earth Day 2012 to Earth Day 2013, two Minnesota families and hundreds of their teammates are competing in the Family Energy FACE-OFF to see who can save more energy. This new community-based energy competition has been launched in a partnership between the Minnesota-based, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and the University of Minnesota, Morris, Office of Sustainability.

Meet the Prairie Penny Pinchers in the Family Energy FACE-OFF: Interview with Troy

Troy Goodnough - UMM — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:25:32 +0000

We’re Troy, Jenn, and Ely Goodnough, and we’re not just saving the planet, we’re saving for college! Our team is called the Prairie Penny Pinchers, and we live in Morris, MN. We’re really excited about the Family Energy FACE-OFF because we know there’s more that we can do to save energy at home, and we really like winning!

Meet the Mill Pond Minimizers in the Family Energy FACE-OFF: Interview with Jeff

Jeff Vetsch — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:25:36 +0000

We’re Jeff Vetsch, Anne Dybsetter, and our kids Henry and Hazel, and we think this contest is going to be a cake walk! Our team is called the Mill Pond Minimizers, and we call New London, MN home. We think the Family Energy FACE-OFF will be a great way to get our kids—and also our friends and family—involved in saving energy and money at home!

Living off the grid in Southeast MN: Highlighting three sustainable families

Susan Waughtal — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:59:25 +0000

There are more people than you’d think living off the grid in the Southeast CERT Region: Adrienne Tryan and Adam Kidney live off the grid in a small cabin they built from reclaimed materials. The Huelskamps live in a solar- and wind-powered geodesic dome on an organic farm that is off the grid and power their car and tractor with biodiesel fuel. The Dedens retrofitted their woodland home to achieve a carbon-neutral lifestyle through major energy efficiency improvements and a grid-tied solar array.

Gibbs Dairy Farm near Altura home to 120 holsteins and now 166 solar PV panels

Susan Waughtal — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:23:30 +0000

Dairy farmer Nathan Gibbs is in a sunny frame of mind. He just installed a 39,840 watt PV solar system on the south-facing roof of his cow shed, which will supply 30% of the farm’s electricity needs annually. Gibbs milks 100 Holsteins on his dairy farm in southeast Minnesota near Altura. He has been farming for 10 years, but this year, with a 30% federal tax rebate, accelerated depreciation, and a rebate incentive from Xcel Energy, the time and financing was right to invest in renewable energy.

May 15 Renewable Materials Summit will focus on building markets for bioenergy and biorefining

Chris May — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:19:52 +0000

On May 15 (only two weeks away!) The Renewable Materials Summit: Markets for Building the Biorefinery will take place in Fargo, North Dakota. We spoke with Tim Welle, Program Manager with The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, to learn a little bit more.

Project Independence solar PV system at Chisago Lakes Middle School: Reflecting on first 2 years

Tom Niemisto — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:47:54 +0000

Project Independence is a 44-panel solar panel array at the Chisago Lakes Middle School in Lindstrom, MN. The project received large support from the community as well as major grants from the State of Minnesota and the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (CERT), but science teacher Pat Collins would tell you that his students really took ownership in making it happen.

Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport solar air heat project looking forward to ribbon cutting

Angela Headlee — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:52:11 +0000

The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport recently added a large solar air heat installation to their facilities, for which they are holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, May 16th. We chatted with Jason Edens at RREAL to learn more about the project.

South Central College offers new program focusing on building design and technology

Joel Haskard — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:18:24 +0000

Hello future architects and builders! We caught wind of South Central College’s Building Design & Energy Technology course and spoke with instructor Ryan Langemeier to learn more.

Power Almanac of Midwest offers tangible insights into our region's electricity production

Joel Haskard — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:52:08 +0000

The Midwest is home to a wealth of energy resources, which vary considerably by state. How those resources are deployed will impact the region’s economy, landscape, environment, and public health. A new online resource, The Power Almanac of the American Midwest, has been designed to allow you to flexibly and dynamically explore the region’s electric resources, opportunities, and challenges. We spoke with Rolf Nordstrom, Executive Director of the Great Plains Institute, to learn more.

Kids compete in wind turbine design competition and solar boat race on May 5th

Joe Rand — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:38:51 +0000

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Challenge is a student-driven wind turbine design competition, solar boat race, and renewable energy career exploration. Since early March, teams of middle and high school students from all over the state have been designing and testing small-scale wind turbines that can stand up to the critical eye of wind turbine engineers and the stresses of a portable wind tunnel. They are also designing small solar boats to race, and interviewing professionals in the renewable energy industry. The teams will convene on Saturday, May 5 to compete at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN.

Looking to save energy on the farm? Check out new resources from The Minnesota Project

Shaun Daniel — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:16:16 +0000

Direct energy use accounts for between 5 and 7 percent of farm expenditures. In terms of electricity used, Minnesota dairies show the largest energy costs, followed by corn growers (for grain drying especially), swine, soybeans, and other agricultural crops.

Convenience and grocery stores reduce commercial refrigeration costs with Otter Tail pilot project

Joel Haskard — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:03:22 +0000

There are lots of ways for convenience and grocery stores to reduce their overhead costs with simple energy efficiency and conservation efforts. We spoke with Jon Fabre, Senior Program Design Specialist with Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail), to learn about innovative ways that Otter Tail is working with their customers to reduce commercial refrigeration costs.

Lighting retrofit project at Sharing and Caring Hands helps charity better serve their mission

Laura Rike — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:49:38 +0000

Sharing and Caring Hands has been serving the needs of the poor in Minneapolis since 1985. They are set up to be a safety net organization to help with whatever needs are not being met, including but not limited to providing meals, clothing, showers, shelter, transportation help, rent deposits, rent help, medical assistance, dental care, furniture, school expenses, funeral assistance, and other miscellaneous needs.