Press Release
6 January 2016
Grants for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Awarded to 39 Projects Across Minnesota
Community-focused clean energy efforts will take shape throughout 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Dan Thiede, Communications Manager,
Clean Energy Resource Teams, 612-626-0556 or thie0235@umn.edu
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 – It is an
energizing New Year for communities across
Minnesota. The state’s Clean Energy Resource
Teams (CERTs) are awarding Seed Grants to
39 innovative renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects in communities from
Slayton to Minneapolis to Grand Marais, and
from Red Lake to Willmar to Rochester.
The 39 projects received funding across a
broad spectrum of energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies. Many projects
also include components of education,
outreach, community building, and research.
These awards mark the eighth round of Seed
Grants from the group, totalling over $1
million to 269 projects since 2006.
“CERTs provides these Seed Grants with two
primary objectives in mind. First, to
This map shows the CERTs 2016 Seed Grant recipients who will
encourage implementation of communitywork on clean energy projects in their communities this year
based clean energy projects across the state.
Second, to provide an educational forum for
energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and their economic, community, and ecological
benefits,” says Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs Director. Project funding will put Minnesotans to work throughout
2016 by supporting technical assistance and labor services.
The 39 projects receiving grants are getting to work now in their communities and their efforts will be
completed by the end of 2016. A complete list of funded projects by region with grant amounts and map of
projects with grantee contact info can be accessed at http://mncerts.org/2016grants.
CERTs 2016 Seed Grants by Region
Central
 Hackensack, MN: Paws and Claws Animal Shelter - 40 kW Solar Array
 Nisswa, MN: Lutheran Church of the Cross - 7.56 kW Ground-Mount PV System
 Detroit Lakes, MN: Detroit Lakes Public Utilities - Community Solar Project
 White Earth Reservation, MN: Honor the Earth - Pine Point Village Solar Thermal
 Fergus Falls, MN: Lake Region Takes Root - Solar in the Garden
Metro
 Chisago, MN: Chisago Lakes Chamber of Commerce - Chisago Lakes Area Hub
 Hennepin County, MN: Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Community Solar for Community Action
 Elk River, MN: City of Elk River - Elk River Fuel Efficient Fleet
 Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light - Energy Efficiency Teams
 Minneapolis, MN: Cleveland Neighborhood Association - Home Energy Efficiency Outreach for
Underrepresented Residents
 Minneapolis, MN: Tangletown Neighborhood Association - Small Business Rooftop Solar Assessments
Northeast
 Biwabik, MN: City of Biwabik - City Hall LED Retrofit
 Chisholm, MN: Minnesota Discovery Center - Educational Solar PV Project
 Cook County, MN: Cook County Local Energy Project - Energy Skills Share
 Finland, MN: Friends of the Finland Community - LED Upgrades at the Clair Nelson Center
 Orr, MN: Orr Recreation and Resource Center - Orr Center LED Exit, Emergency,
and Security Lighting Project
 Duluth, MN: Ecolibrium 3 - Giving Comfort at Home
 Duluth, MN: Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Arrowhead Regional Network (MNIPL ARN) Youth Be the Spark in NE MN Faith Communities
Northwest
 Bemidji, MN: Voyageurs Expeditionary School - Keep the Lights Out, Energy Reduction
 Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen Counties, MN:
Headwaters Regional Development Council - Northwest Clean Energy Financing
 Red Lake Reservation, MN: Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians - Red Lake Charter
School / Business Incubator
 White Earth Reservation, MN: White Earth Land Recovery Project - Community Solar Install
Southeast
 Rochester, MN: Rochester EarthFest - 2016 Expo
 Lake Crystal, MN: Lake Crystal Municipal Utility - Beat the Peak Program
 Northfield, MN: St. Dominic Parish - Communicating our Progress on Energy Savings Project
 Henderson, MN: Ney Nature Center - Harnessing the Power of the Sun
Southwest
 Slayton, MN: City of Slayton - City Entrance Sign Solar Panels
 Slayton, MN: Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP) - Community
Solar Gardens in SW Minnesota
 Trimont, MN: City of Trimont - Community Building Heating and Cooling, LED
Street Lights
West Central
 Morris, MN: Pomme De Terre Foods Inc - Energy Efficiency Project
 Morris, MN: City of Morris - Morris Model Clean Energy Hub
 Hutchinson, MN: City of Hutchinson - Minnesota ENERGY STAR Challenge
Implementation
 Willmar, MN: Willmar Community Theatre - Upgrading Building Lighting
Multiple Regions
 Northwest, Central and Southeast MN: AgInspire - Renewable Energy Education Kits
 West Central, Southeast and Southwest MN: Region Nine Development Commission - Community
Solar Garden Workshops
Funding for the grants is provided by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy
Resources.
Details about funded projects and an interactive map with grantee contact info can be found at
http://mncerts.org/2016grants. Past projects can be explored at http://mncerts.org/projects.
About CERTs: The Clean Energy Resource Teams—or CERTs—are a statewide partnership with a shared
mission to connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement
community-based clean energy projects. CERTs empowers communities and their members to adopt
energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies and practices for their homes,
businesses, and local institutions. CERTs is a partnership of the University of Minnesota Extension and
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Great Plains Institute, Southwest Regional Development
Commission, and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.
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