Minnesota Commerce Department launches 2018 Clean Energy Community Awards
The Minnesota
Department of Commerce has announced the opening of the application process for
the 2018 Clean Energy Community Awards (CECA). The awards recognize the good
work of Minnesota communities in helping to achieve the state’s clean energy
goals. Commerce is the sponsor and coordinator of the program, with financial
support from the U.S. Department of Energy. Applications
and award information is available, and applications
will be accepted until February 5, 2018.
The awards will
recognize communities that implement planning, programs, policies, and
technologies that encourage energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy
generation. They will be given in two categories: Achievement and Planning.
Achievement
Awards
Given to up to
five Minnesota communities, the CECA Achievement
Awards acknowledge the work that communities have had in place in the previous year that
demonstrates progress towards reaching
the state’s clean energy goals. Designed to showcase and support the efforts of Minnesota’s communities, the Achievement Awards also encourage a
network of communications for sharing best practices among communities from
around the state.
Planning Awards
Given to up to
three Minnesota communities, the CECA Planning
Awards seek to provide support and resources for communities that are at the beginning to
intermediate stages of working towards the
state’s clean energy goals. Designed to encourage the implementation of planned projects, the Planning Awards will provide
feedback to successful applicants as well as connect communities with a variety of clean energy resources.
“Minnesota has
ambitious clean energy goals and the objective of our Clean Energy Community
Awards is to acknowledge the great work of communities in helping to achieve
those goals,” said Commerce Commissioner Jessica Looman. “Our state is a national
leader in clean energy initiatives and we want to continue that momentum.”
Indeed,
Minnesota generated more than 22%
of its electricity from renewable energy sources
in 2016, so it is well on pace to exceed its Renewable Electricity Standard of
25% of electricity from renewables by 2025. Similarly, well within reach is the
Solar Energy Standard that calls for generating 1.5% of the state’s electricity
from solar energy by 2020.
Who
can apply
Communities eligible for the awards can be any group formed to implement
clean energy goals. Units of government (city, county, tribal nation, school
district, military unit, or other jurisdiction) must be a core member, but
coalitions that include nonprofits, service organizations, and businesses will
strengthen the application. To qualify for the award, the community’s clean
energy program must have been in operation during the last 12 months. Projects
from communities of all sizes are welcome.
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Evaluation
Applications will be reviewed by the
Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. Successful
applicants will be evaluated by the following metrics:
(1) Measurable efforts towards the
state’s clean energy goals:
(2) Policy development, such as
adoption of Comprehensive, Sustainability, Zoning, or Climate Action Plans that
support measurable clean energy achievements in public or private buildings or
other infrastructure.
(3) Community partnerships with
local business, industry, agriculture, nonprofits, utilities, or residents.
(4) Public engagement efforts,
stakeholder education, or other community outreach endeavors.
(5) Implementation of energy
efficiency or renewable energy projects or programs that benefit low-income
and/or historically underserved communities.
Learn more
To learn more about the awards, including
benefits to winning communities, go to cleanenergyresourceteams.org/clean-energy-awards and complete an application by February 5, 2018.
Please direct questions about CECA to energy.info@state.mn.us.
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