Minnesota’s Energy Future: Community Energy and Economic Opportunity Forum

The Southwest Clean Energy Resource Team (CERT) will host the Southwest Regional Energy Forum Monday November 7 from 1 to 3:30 at the Pipestone County Community Room. The team is one of six citizen-based teams from around the state and has recently released its regional Renewable Energy Inventory and Action Plan and hopes to use this forum to jump-start local energy projects that were prioritized in the plan.

Joining the local CERT for this Energy Forum will be the Minnesota Department of Commerce State Energy Office; Environmental Assistance, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Southwest Regional Development Commission; Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) Organization; Rural Minnesota Energy Board; Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI); and the University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE).

These groups have joined forces to travel the state to share information on new renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives and to assist rural communities with their energy projects. Annette Bair with the Southwest CERT Partnership says, “It is important for our government agencies and decision makers to hear what our rural communities are doing and would like to do so renewable energy programs and policies can both enhance renewable energy development and local economic development.”

The Energy Forum will provide something for almost everyone. If you want to construct a wind power project, come learn how to take advantage of the new financial incentives in the C-BED tariff, as well as the technical and financial assistance provided by the Department of Commerce. Sign up to support renewable energy at your own home through Environmental Assistance's Green Pricing program. Get information about how to make low cost and no cost energy efficiency improvements in your community. Come hear about cutting edge renewable energy research being conducted by the University of Minnesota and what it could mean for Minnesota’s energy future. Finally, find out how you can be more involved in your community's energy future by becoming a CERTs member.

The coalition will ultimately be making eight stops in Minnesota communities scattered throughout the state. The Southwest Forum is scheduled for

Date: November 7, 2005
Time: 1 pm – 3:30 pm

Location: Community Room, Pipestone County Courthouse, 416 S. Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone Minnesota

The Clean Energy Resource Teams project began in 2003 with funding from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) and the Department of Energy – Minnesota Department of Commerce. In July 2005 the teams received another 2 years of funding through LCMR to turn their strategic energy plans, that lay out project priorities to capitalize on each region's local resources, into on-the-ground projects. Through these projects CERT members hope to stimulate the rural Minnesota economy using local resources and innovative 21st Century technologies to generate energy and thereby keep money at home and create new local jobs.

For additional information on the Energy Forum, contact:

Annette Bair,
Southwest Clean Energy Resource Team Coordinator
http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org