CERTs 2014 Seed Grant Recipients

Each of the seven CERTs regions awarded $20,000 worth of seed grants, catalyzing energyefficiency and renewable energy projects across the state.

Funding is provided by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of EnergyResources. Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal.

Since 2006, CERTs has awarded $930,000 to more than 230 projects. Learn more and see pastprojects at http://projects.mncerts.org.

CENTRAL REGION

Cass County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) – Backus andLongville Joint Small Cities Rehab Grant RequestBackus and Longville, MN – CCEDC seeks to advance rehabilitations of com-mercial buildings in Backus and Longville. CCEDC will do 10 units of energyefficiency improvements, for example installing new energy efficient furnacesand insulation, windows, doors and roofing. CCEDC will also conduct commu-nity wide educational presentations in Longville and Backus on the benefits ofupgrading the energy efficiency of their commercial buildings. (Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Building Envelope, Behavioral Change, Insulation and Furnace; $2,700)

City of Detroit Lakes, Public Utilities – Washington Ave Street and Utility RehabDetroit Lakes, MN – In conjunction with infrastructure and aesthetic updates to Detroit Lakes’ mainstreet corridor, the City of Detroit Lakes will be replacing twenty-six high-pressure sodium streetlights with new LED street lights. This project will be highly visible to those who use WashingtonAve (Detroit Lakes’ main street). An educational poster explaining LED lights and the associatedsavings will be put up in the City Administration building and displayed at public events. (EnergyEfficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $4,300)

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) – Renewable Energy/Sustainable Living TourCentral Region, MN – A Renewable Energy/Sustainable Living Tour will help to eliminate the mys-tery and confusion that often still surrounds renewable energy installations and green living in gen-eral. Living in a sustainable way is not just for a certain group of people, it is for everyday people.The goal of the MRES tour is to give a “hands on” experience with working products and a friendlyface-to-face conversation with someone who is an owner and user, not a salesperson, to increase con-fidence for people to make similar improvements at their own home or business. Every site willhave at least one renewable energy technology to display. (Energy Efficiency (all); Renewable Energy(all); Additional Technologies; $1,500)

City of Royalton – City of Royalton Wind ProjectRoyalton, MN – SheerWind, Inc in collaboration with the City of Royalton will install 80kW of windenergy using SheerWind’s INVELOX technology. SheerWind’s INVELOX technology providesgreater power output at reduced costs and can produce energy from wind speeds as low as 2mph.The City of Royalton has partnered with SheerWind to install INVELOX systems on city ownedproperty to provide renewable power to local meters, reducing the cost of electricity incurred by theCity and contributing to Royalton’s work as a Minnesota GreenStep City. As part of the project,SheerWind and the City of Royalton will share information and data collected about the INVELOXproject with students, community members and CERTs. (Renewable Energy: Wind; $4,000)

The Clean Energy

Resource Teams

(CERTs) connect

individuals and

their communities

to the resources

they need to

identify and

implement

community-based

clean energy

projects

Minnesotans buildinga clean energy future

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Rural Renewable Energy Alliance – Toasty TurkeysRothsay, MN – Transpired air is a low-cost, effective solar technology designed for ventilation make-up air loads and offers theMinnesota turkey industry an opportunity to dramatically reduce and stabilize energy costs. Turkey production facilities have high ven-tilation make-up air loads and therefore high heating loads. Turkey production operations are often far from the natural gas grid anddependent on expensive delivered fuels. This project will partner with an independent turkey producer in Rothsay to illustrate the effec-tiveness of transpired air for turkey barns and potential for other agricultural sectors to benefit from similar applications. (RenewableEnergy: Solar Air Heat; $5,000)

Small Wind Turbines, LLC – Small Wind Turbine Comparison TestingPine River, MN – In collaboration with Hunt Utilities Group (HUG), Small Wind Turbines, LLC will install and test a new 20kw windturbine on the HUG campus and compare the kilowatt hour production from the existing 20kw turbine which has been on site for thepast 7 years. The existing turbine is not producing to original expectations and this project aims to improve the performance by at least50 percent by demonstrating the efficacy of the new direct drive small wind generator technology owned by Small Wind Turbines, LLC.(Renewable Energy: Wind; $2,500)

METRO REGION

Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA) – Creating a Kingfield Community Solar GardenKingfield Neighborhood, Minneapolis, MN – KFNA has identified a location for a potential solar garden (a col-lective site for solar panels) in the Kingfield neighborhood and have been invited by the property owner to studythe site’s feasibility and develop a concept plan. While conducting the study, KFNA wants to educate Kingfieldneighbors, including Nicollet Square tenants, about Solar Gardens to encourage community buy-in on the con-cept. (Renewable Energy: Solar Electric; $3600)

Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), Lake Street Council & Seward Redesign – Energy Coaching PilotMinneapolis, MN – This partnership will pilot an Energy Coach training that has emerged from a Metro CERT Small Business EnergyTask Force. Lake Street Council, LEDC, and Seward Redesign all have strong relationships with the business community. They will eachleverage those relationships to increase awareness and utilization of existing energy resources. This project will serve as a model for howto train business association and Community Development Corporation (CDC) staff to launch and market energy programs and shep-herd business owners through implementation. This grant will fund staff time for testing the Energy Coach model with 1-2 businesseseach (3-6 total) through the implementation process. (Energy Efficiency (all): Renewable Energy: Solar Thermal Hot Water, Solar Electric;$5,400)

Richfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority – Home Energy Squad Enhanced Program: Latino OutreachRichfield, MN – The Richfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Center for Energy and Environment and NeighborhoodDevelopment Alliance are partnering to develop an outreach plan to bring the Home Energy Squad Enhanced (HESE) Program to 50-75Latino homeowners in Richfield. HESE is a residential energy-efficiency program that aims to reduce energy use and environmentalimpact through home energy visits that include the installation of low-cost materials, identification of other energy-saving opportunities,and follow-up assistance for homeowners undertaking major efficiency upgrades. Reaching out to the growing Latino community is animportant component in reducing energy usage by households and an overall priority for the City. (Energy Efficiency (all); $4000)

South East Como Improvement Association (SECIA) – Putting SE Como Flat Roofs to WorkMinneapolis, MN – The Southeast Como neighborhood, north of the University of Minnesota, has a mix of residents, students, business-es, and industry. From above, it is a green swath of park space, trees, homes, and gardens sandwiched between industry to the north,east, and south. SECIA will explore the viability of the area’s flat roofs as rooftop gardens, green roofs, community solar host sites, windsource sites, etc. SECIA will work with neighborhood property owners to identify and recommend opportunities that can benefit thecommunity with these sorts of projects. (Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Building Envelope, Green Roofs; RenewableEnergy: Solar Electric, Wind; Additional Technologies: Community Gardens; $3,000)

Sustainable Resources Center – District 10 Home Energy InitiativeComo Neighborhood, St. Paul, MN – The Como Energy Team, residents of St. Paul Council District 10, is continuing its efforts on theHome Energy Initiative to educate residents about home energy efficiency. The Team will recruit 15 - 30 participant families interested ina detailed home energy audit and follow up education that will help homeowners understand how to make their homes more energyefficient. The Team is partnering with Sustainable Resources Center, a nonprofit with more than 35 years of experience creating energyefficient homes and with Cooperative Energy Futures, a member-owned cooperative, who will coordinate financing options and a bulkpurchase of insulation. (Energy Efficiency (all) plus mechanical systems upgrades to improve indoor air quality; $4000)

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NORTHEAST REGION

City of Duluth – City of Duluth Site and Technical Assessments for Small Scale Solar Electric ProjectsDuluth, MN – The City of Duluth’s solar PV project will provide site assessment and technical assessment phases forfour or more small-scale solar electric system installations at small community park buildings, gardens, and publiclocations where energy use has already been or can be driven down to low levels through energy efficiency measures.During the project, the city will also seek funding partners, revenue resources and education-based partnerships toinstall the solar systems. Each installation will likely be less than 2.5 kW and will be used to achieve net zero or nearnet zero fossil fueled electric generation at each site. The solar PV installations will serve as displays for communityinformation and education events to garner support for larger solar installations in the community. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades;Renewable Energy: Solar Electric; $3,000)

City of Tamarack – Dark Sky Compliant Street LightingTamarack, MN – The City of Tamarack would like to change the 24 street lights in town to be dark sky compliant/friendly. In order to be darksky friendly, the City will work with Lake Country Power to change out all the current lights and replace them with LED lights. This new ener-gy efficient lighting will shine straight down and give off a white glow instead of shining up and out giving off an orange glow which causeslight pollution. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $5,000)

Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) – Using Video & Print to Implement Community Energy EfficiencyCook County, MN – Cook County Local Energy Project will implement a community-based energy action project using video and print toexpand public awareness and knowledge about energy efficiency and mindful energy use. The goal is to inspire more citizens to take action. Toenhance delivery, CCLEP will collaborate with Cook County Extension and numerous area organizations and businesses. This project buildson the successes of CCLEP’s Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP), a two-year pilot project in its second year, as well as CCLEP’sstrong on-going collaborations with the city and county. (Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Behavioral Change, BuildingEnvelope, Lighting Upgrades; $4,000)

Equilibrium3 – Media Outreach and Community Energy EngagementDuluth & St. Louis County, MN – Ecolibrium3 is the lead agency for Duluth’s entry into the Georgetown University Energy Prize competitionthat will focus on measurable electric and natural gas reductions in the residential and municipal sectors from August 2014 to August 2016. Tomaximize community engagement and completed actions, a wide variety of audiences must be activated to take action. By imbedding amedia intern with the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program staff, Ecolibrium3 will create targeted visual media materials to educate and inspirecommunity members to lessen their energy usage at home and at work as part of this two year campaign. (Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Behavioral Change, Community Engagement; $4,000)

Hibbing Community College – Minnesota Power Pack ProgramHibbing, MN – The Power Pack is an innovative solar market development program first implemented in Milwaukee, WI as part of the U.S.Department of Energy SunShot program. Through the program, that has now expanded into Illinois with sponsorship from the NationalScience Foundation (NSF) and the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) works withlocal partners to help home and business owners lower their electric bills with solar energy. Students enrolled in partnering solar training pro-grams get field experience in solar site assessment. CERT Seed Grant funding will help bring this program into partnership with the HibbingCommunity College (HCC) Solar Photovoltaic Technician training program with a geographic focus on Minnesota Power Territory.(Renewable Energy: Solar Electric; $4,000)

NORTHWEST REGION

B-Well – Community Capacity Building in Sustainability: Rail River Folk School & Harmony Food CooperativeBemidji, MN – This energy auditing project will demonstrate the community partnership between Rail River FolkSchool and Harmony Foods Cooperative. It will also provide an educational opportunity for those who are con-sidering alternative energy options. Each partner serves the community at large with separate business modelsbut with the shared value of wanting to “give back” to the community by working on larger sustainability proj-ects. This energy audit will be a first step of many in an overall planning effort to establish a local foods hub inBemidji, with many partner organizations looking for ways to contribute to our community’s sustainability.(Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Behavior Change, Building Envelope; Renewable Energy: Solar Air Heat, SolarThermal Hot Water, Solar Electric; Additional Technologies: Energy Storage; $1,875)

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Center for Renewable Energy Education & Demonstration (CREED) – Discovering Science on the Range in the Field of EnergyNorthwest Region, MN – This project is a cooperative effort involving the CREED Project, Hamline University Graduate School’sDepartment of Continuing Education and the Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC). The program is designed specifically forhigh/middle school teachers wishing to update their Minnesota Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy (EERE) industry knowledge andthereby encourage their students to choose a future career in this field. Teachers completing all assignments for the two years earntwelve graduate credits and an Energy Education Certificate. (Energy Efficiency (all); Renewable Energy (all); Additional Technologies(all); $500)

City of Warren – Godel Library Energy ImprovementsWarren, MN – The City of Warren owns the Godel Library building which is in need of added wall insulation to help control heatingcosts. The library was built in the early 1970’s and has very little insulation in the walls. The goal of the project is to decrease the operat-ing costs of the heating, cooling and lighting of the building. The community is engaged in this project; this project has been discussedin Godel Library’s board meetings, the City of Warren’s city council meetings and Marshall County Commissioner meetings along withthe Warren Lions Club. (Energy Efficiency: Building Envelope, Insulate inside walls of the library; $2,500)

Conservation Corps Minnesota – Renewable Energy Outreach ProjectNorthwest Region, MN – Conservation Corps Minnesota is collaborating with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance to sponsor anapprenticeship in renewable energy outreach and solar technologies. The Solar Heat Outreach Specialist will gain knowledge in renew-able energy applications and will educate community service organizations and homeowners on the benefits of solar heat and fundingprograms that are available to address energy poverty. By harnessing BTUs from the sun, solar thermal systems reduce heat-relatedenergy consumption from conventional sources by 25 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project’s long-range goal is toexpand the renewable energy infrastructure in Northwest Minnesota. (Renewable Energy: Solar Air Heat, Solar Thermal Hot Water,Solar Electric; $7,000)

Headwaters Regional Development Commission – Understanding Demand for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency FinancingBeltrami County, MN – The Headwaters RDC and the Sustainability Office at Bemidji State University (BSU) will identify and under-stand renewable energy and energy efficiency financing needs in the Bemidji region. They will partner with the Marketing Assistanceand Research Solutions program at BSU to survey the community. The information collected will be used to focus on financing tools forenergy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Project results can be used to assist other communities looking to finance energy proj-ects. (Energy Efficiency (all); Renewable Energy (all); $3,000)

Northwest Research & Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Crookston – Cattails as Biofuel – Homegrown solutions to sustainableenergy at the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugeCrookston, MN – Minnesota has no fossil fuel resources but we do have various biofuel alternatives from forests, brushlands, croplands,and wetlands (natural and constructed). This project proposes to demonstrate the use of cattail biofuel as a heat source at the headquar-ters of the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge where excessive cattail growth is choking out many of the restored shallow wetlandsof the “largest wetland and prairie restoration project in North America.” Cattails have energy values similar to wood pellets, thoughcooperative demonstrations are needed to evaluate working applications of this novel biofuel source. (Renewable Energy: Biomass;$1,125)

White Earth Land Recovery Project – White Earth Solar Thermal Install & TrainingWhite Earth Reservation, MN – White Earth Land Recovery Project will install ten solar thermal units on tribal homes on and near thereservation. They will use this as a training program which can be shared with tribal communities in northwestern Minnesota, andpotentially leverage support from the University of Minnesota at Morris and Minnesota State University at Moorhead. The White Earthtribal community suffers from rampant fuel poverty; one quarter of the tribal income is spent on energy, and since the community hasthe poorest county in the state of Minnesota, it is critical to address this through two mechanisms: efficiency and local control over ener-gy. This project integrates valuable green job skills training for tribal members and heating cost relief for residents. (Renewable Energy:Solar Air Heat; $4,000)

SOUTHEAST REGION

Center for Renewable Energy Education & Demonstration (CREED) – Discovering Science on the Range in theField of EnergySoutheast Region, MN – This project is a cooperative effort involving the CREED Project, Hamline UniversityGraduate School’s Department of Continuing Education and the Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC). Theprogram is designed specifically for high/middle school teachers wishing to update their Minnesota EnergyEfficiency/Renewable Energy (EERE) industry knowledge and thereby encourage their students to choose afuture career in this field. Teachers completing all assignments for the two years earn twelve graduate credits andan Energy Education Certificate. (Energy Efficiency (all); Renewable Energy (all); Additional Technologies (all); $1,000). January.

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Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative (GNSC) – Online Project RepositoryRice County, MN – GNSC will utilize seed grant funds to hire a web developer to develop a searchable project database for the GreaterNorthfield Sustainability Collaborative website (www.northfieldsustainability.org). The project repository will be a shared resource thataims to coordinate efforts to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainability projects among Carleton College, St.Olaf College, non-profit organizations, the Northfield City Council, and other government bodies. Organizations seeking volunteers willuse the site to publicize their projects; college faculty, students, and community members will use the site to discover opportunities forcivic engagement projects. The site will also serve as an archive for completed research. (Energy Efficiency: Renewable Energy:Additional Technologies: Food systems, EV Charging, Composting/Recycling; $3,000). January.

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) – Renewable Energy/Sustainable Living TourSoutheast Region, MN – A Renewable Energy/Sustainable Living Tour will help to eliminate the mystery and confusion that often stillsurrounds renewable energy installations and green living in general. Living in a sustainable way is not just for a certain group of peo-ple, it is for everyday people. The goal of the MRES tour is to give a “hands on” experience with working products and a friendly face-to-face conversation with someone who is an owner and user, not a salesperson, to increase confidence for people to make similarimprovements at their own home or business. Every site will have at least one renewable energy technology to display. (EnergyEfficiency (all); Renewable Energy (all); Additional Technologies; $1,500). January.

Region Nine Economic Development Commission (RNDC) – Community Renewable Energy Planning ProjectAmboy & Kiester, MN – This project will educate and advise Region 9 community organizations to develop installation strategies forenergy efficiency and renewable energy at community owned facilities. RNDC has been approached by two community organizationsthat plan to build/renovate a community center. Their strategic plan will attract growth and reverse the economic trend of decline inrural towns. For these two communities, a major outcome of this project is to work through a process to develop the implementation ofa community solar installation. What will be key in the two communities is to create a structure that enables pursuit of tax credits,renewable energy credits, and community ownership. (Energy Efficiency (all): Renewable Energy (all): Additional Technologies:Geothermal, Energy Storage; $4,000). January.

Rochester Olmsted Planning Department – Rochester Energy Awareness & Involvement CampaignRochester, MN –The Rochester City Council established the Energy Commission, charging them with the task of developing an EnergyAction Plan (EAP) for the Council to pass. For such a Plan to be created and passed, the community must know of the effort, see its ben-efits, engage in the process, and support the final product. This proposal helps make this possible by funding the production of aninformative 3-fold brochure, the writing of a series of pieces of various lengths for various audiences, and the strategic placement ofthese pieces in established print and electronic media outlets throughout the community. (Energy Efficiency: Behavior Change,Education; Additional Technologies: Social Engagement, Help Develop Energy Action Plan; $3,000). January.

Austin Utilities - Photovoltaic Electric Vehicle Public Charging StationAustin, MN – Austin Utilities plans to install the first public electric vehicle charging station in the city. Combining the station with solarphotovoltaic panels will not only help Austin Utilities with their conservation efforts, but also Riverland Community College’s solarinstaller program. The goals of the project are to supply a charging station for the public, provide a study for Austin Utilities on how theelectric charging station impacts the system, and provide additional training for those in the solar installer program at Riverland.(Renewable Energy: Solar Electric; Additional Technologies: Electric Vehicle Charging; $2,000). March.

Sustain Winona Partnership – Winona “Community” Community Solar InitiativeWinona, MN – A subset of Sustain Winona, the Community Solar Technical Committee, is researching and developing best practices forimplementing a community-led, community solar project. The committee will engage legal and financial consulting services to developmodels that maximize the involvement of local citizens and institutions, such as municipalities and non-profits. They also plan to edu-cate potential subscribers about energy efficiency and would have assessments done so subscribers would decrease their energy usage.The end goal is to have a 1 MW community solar project in Xcel’s service territory. (Energy Efficiency: lost-cost/no-cost upgrades,behavior change; Renewable Energy: Solar Electric; $3,500). March.

Ridgeway Community School – Cost-effective Lighting Upgrades and Energy Conservation Practices ProjectPleasant Hill Township, Winona Co., MN – Ridgeway Community School aims to upgrade lighting fixtures in the school and educatelocal students, homeowners, farmers, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations about different cost-effective technologies andenergy conservation practices to lower energy usage. Specifically, they want to focus on lighting and other low-cost/no-cost upgradesthat they will develop into curriculum materials. They also plan to host several informative school open houses. (Energy Efficiency: low-cost/no-cost upgrades, behavior change, lighting upgrades; $1,500). March.

RE-fest/Austin Utilities - RE-Fest: A Celebration of Green Living & Clean EnergyAustin, MN – RE-fest, an annual event hosted in Austin, this year – on September 20th – focuses on education the community about the

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positive impact individuals can have on the environment. The event provides educational and entertainment opportunities about greenliving and clean energy, as well as opportunities for local vendors to sell their goods. The RE-fest team, a collaboration of individualsfrom Austin Utilities, J.C. Hormel Nature Center, and Riverland Community College, with support from Owatonna Public Utilities andSouthern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, hope to expand their outreach this year and reach more folks in Southeastern Minnesotaand Northern Iowa to help educate them on efficiency opportunities. (Energy Efficiency: low-cost/no-cost upgrades, behavior change,building envelope, lighting upgrades; Renewable Energy: solar electric, wind; Additional Technologies: geothermal; $500). March.

SOUTHWEST REGION

City of Slayton - Broadway Ave. LED Street Lighting RetrofitsSlayton, MN – The City of Slayton currently owns twenty-five 250-watt High Pressure Sodium cobra head stylestreet lights on Broadway Avenue, the City’s central business district and also contains residential housing units.The City of Slayton is working to replace Broadway Avenue’s street lights with twenty-five 55-watt LED retrofit-ted units to reduce energy use and energy costs and to increase energy efficiency while simultaneously increasingsafety and security for Slayton’s Downtown pedestrians and businesses. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades;$2,000)

Christ Lutheran Church - Window Replacement ProjectSlayton, MN – The Church members will replace 15 of the original 25 windows with energy efficient windows.This project will be shared with and described to others by including church members in the project. Volunteer members will learn froma contractor and then help with the work, thereby learning or refining a skill set transferable to similar projects at home or elsewhere inthe community. The entire congregation will learn from this process and benefit from the energy savings provided by the new windows.(Energy Efficiency: window replacement; $5,000)

City of Russell – LED Street Lighting ProjectRussell, Arco, and Lynd, MN – Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Inc. will replace a number of existing mercury vapor and high pres-sure sodium street lights with LED lights to reduce energy use by the cities of Russell, Arco and Lynd. Lyon-Lincoln ElectricCooperative will study the results of the project and share that information with its nearly 4,000 utility members and through energyeducation programs at area schools. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $8,600)

Red Rock Central School District - Community Auditorium LED Lighting ProjectLamberton, MN – The school district auditorium stage lighting fixtures will be retrofitted with energy efficient LED lighting. The audito-rium is used by area communities for events such as dance recitals and community fundraiser rummage sales (this year’s will benefitthe auditorium’s LED lighting upgrade). (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $4,400)

WEST CENTRAL REGION

Bonnie’s Hometown Grocery Store – Saving Energy to Save Our Hometown Grocery StoreClinton, MN – Bonnie’s Hometown Grocery is located in a western Minnesota, USDA designated, rural fooddesert. Electricity is among the largest operating costs. With broad community support, Bonnie’s seeks toreplace the old freezers, installed in 1979, with new Energy Star freezers. These freezers would save 38% of cur-rent energy usage, saving 59,000 kWh per year and lowering the grocery store’s energy bills. (Energy Efficiency;$5,000)

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Center for Renewable Energy Education & Demonstration (CREED) – Discovering Science on the Range in the Field of EnergyWest Central Region, MN – This project is a cooperative effort involving the CREED Project, Hamline University Graduate School’sDepartment of Continuing Education and the Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC). The program is designed specifically forhigh/middle school teachers wishing to update their Minnesota Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy (EERE) industry knowledge andthereby encourage their students to choose a future career in this field. Teachers completing all assignments for the two years earntwelve graduate credits and an Energy Education Certificate. (Energy Efficiency (all); Renewable Energy (all); Additional Technologies(all); $500)

City of Brownton – Street Lighting UpgradesBrownton, MN – The goal of this project is to upgrade streetlights and poles to replace inefficient street lights, conserve energy, andshare the results with others. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $4,000)

Madison, Marietta, Nassau Elementary School Lighting Retrofit ProjectMadison, MN – The Madison, Marietta, Nassau Elementary School needs to upgrade the lighting in its Gymnasiums and replace the exitlighting to more efficient LED lights. The school will also be working with the City of Madison Bright Energy Solutions to pilot an ener-gy saving education program for the 4th grade class this school year. This project will showcase energy savings as a real world exampleto those students. (Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades; $5,500)

New London-Spicer High School’s Agriculture Department – Solar Active Greenhouse and Wind TurbineNew London, MN – The New London-Spicer High School’s Agriculture Department, with the help of several key supporters, is work-ing to build a solar active greenhouse and install an adjacent small wind turbine. This highly visible project will showcase several typesof clean energy uses. It will use the sun to heat the greenhouse through an in-ground heat storage system and will use the wind turbineto power its electrical equipment. This project will serve as a powerful educational tool for the school and the larger community demon-strating the practical viability of renewable energy resources. Data from the wind turbine will be collected and made public so otherscan track the kilowatt-hours produced by the system. (Energy Efficiency: Low-Cost/ No-Cost Upgrades, Behavior Change; RenewableEnergy: Solar Air Heat, Wind; Additional Technologies: Geothermal, Energy Storage; $5,000)