Heads up tree huggers. This news is for you.
The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) just announced a new round of green energy grants for communities. The grants are designed to cover installation, consulting fees and other labor costs associated with energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.
The effort will help create or protect numerous jobs, a critical step considering that Minnesota still struggles with a 7.2 percent unemployment rate.
The application deadline is Nov. 15 at 5 P.M. That's less than a month away.
The grant pool up for grabs totals $70,000, but a maximum of $10,000 will be alloted for each of seven designated regions.
Organizers noted that project proposals should focus on community-based energy projects that also provide an educational forum for communities. The educational component should emphasize green energy technologies, their benefits and impact on the economy, environment, and community.
Since 2006, the state's CERTs program has funded more than 150 projects including replacing energy-gobbling heating systems in city-owned buildings; installing solar panels in schools; and various wind power and greenhouse projects.
