Every two years, the Clean Energy Resource Teams, or CERTs, issues a request for proposal (RFP) to provide seed funding to clean energy projects across Minnesota. The seed grant RFP for 2022 is now out and applications are due at 4 p.m. on October 8, 2021. The RFP details everything you need to know, including eligibility, contractual terms, materials and submission information, the timeline, review process, and the regional criteria and preferences.
CERTs is geographically divided into seven regions, and each region has $20,000 dedicated to supporting these community-based projects. The funding has three primary objectives:
- Encourage community-based clean energy projects in each Minnesota CERT region. Clean energy projects can include projects such as energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, electric vehicle-related projects, and energy storage.
- Spur projects that are highly visible in their community and can be replicated by others.
- Provide an opportunity for community education about clean energy and its many benefits.
Additionally, each region is unique and has a steering committee that provides guidance on the priorities, including for the seed grant funding. The Metro region of CERTs is directed by the Great Plains Institute (one of four entities that make up the CERTs partnership) and has since 2013.
The Metro CERT steering committee is looking for projects that fit the regional criteria and preferences:
- Creative, out-of-the-box ideas to reduce energy use or create clean energy and/or engage communities through clean energy.
- Creative ideas to increase electrification of transportation (e.g., E-bikes, electric vehicles, mass transit).
- Reduce energy burden for lower-income or historically underserved communities, especially with a focus on single and multi-unit residents, including manufactured housing through energy efficiency/conservation and solar adoption strategies.
- Reduce energy costs for small businesses by utilizing both energy efficiency/conservation and solar adoption strategies.
Past case studies can be reviewed to better understand the kinds of projects the steering committee has funded. Additionally, there will also be an ‘office hours’ session for the Metro CERT seed grants and priorities to answer questions on September 9, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Diana McKeown, Metro CERT Director at [email protected].
