Help to finance renewable energy projects arrives!

Although many of us would love to incorporate renewable energy into our homes and make those energy efficiency improvements that will lower our utility bills, the upfront financing needed can be the roadblock that makes it seem impossible. Today marked a huge win for homeowners as the PACE legislation was signed into law, providing an opportunity for Minnesota homeowners to make those green dreams come true.

Read more below (information via Fresh Energy)

PACE: Financing Small Renewable & Efficiency Projects

Among homeowners and small business owners who clearly understand the long term financial and environmental benefits of installing small renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvements, one of the biggest hurdles is the up-front cash expenditure needed. One innovative approach is a concept called PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy). PACE is a low-interest funding mechanism that a municipal financing district or finance company may choose to offer to homeowners or small businesses to cover the up-front costs. The loans are then repaid over a set period of time via an annual assessment on the property tax bill.

The concept is not a new one; it is very similar to tax assessments made for new sidewalks or streetlights, but only applies to an individual property where the improvement is made. The PACE strategy can result in annual individual savings outweighing the annual individual assessments. PACE adds a financing option to individual debt or home equity debt. One advantage is that it avoids the need to utilize personal credit for the loans.

15 other states have already passed legislation that enables local entities to implement PACE financing. This year Fresh Energy has been working to pass PACE legislation in Minnesota - HF 3109 and SF 2720 - to help spur small-scale renewable and efficiency projects and create clean energy jobs. Recently the bill was incorporated into the Omnibus Jobs Bill, H.F. 2695; passed by both houses; and signed in to law by the Governor on April 1, 2010. PACE will help create jobs, improve the housing and building stock in our communities, and lessen demand for energy - thereby reducing the need for expensive new power plants and transmission lines. We eagerly anticipate implementation of this legislation.

Funding opportunities for Energy Improvements in Minnesota

Lack of funding is the most common hurdle to incorporating energy improvements. Luckily, there are a lot of options in Minnesota to help. Thank you to CERTS-NE for keeping track of these updates!

-A Request for Proposals (RFP) is posted for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) competitive funding; responses are being accepted through January 25, 2010. The RFP is available for download here.

-Questions and answers from the November 10, 2009 Local Government Programs Webinar are now available in the Resources section of the Department of Commerce website.

-Energy Saver residential energy efficiency rebates through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) are now available to those who qualify for Fix-up Fund loans. This includes funding for renewable energy. More information can be accessed here.

-Project ReEnergize, the residential energy efficiency rebate program, has limited remaining funds available. Homeowners can apply for rebates through eligible licensed contractors listed on the Project ReEnergize website. Rebates are available for qualifying energy efficiency improvements, including Energy Star window replacements, advanced attic air sealing, and attic and wall insulation.

-More information on stimulus-funded energy programs can be found at www.energy.mn.gov. If you have questions, please contact energy.info@state.mn.us or 800-657-3710.

Lessons & Concepts for Advancing Community Wind

Are you or your community interested in wind energy, but are looking for concrete examples of successful projects from which to learn before you begin?


The Minnesota Project just released the report Lessons & Concepts for Advancing Community Wind, which seeks to advance the development of community-based wind projects in the United States. The report highlights keys to success and policy recommendations from three Midwestern wind project case studies. It can be a useful start for communities that are not only searching for information on the basic concept and structure of wind energy, but are also seeking strategies to address potential economic and political challenges.

Click here to download the report.

Click here to learn more about The Minnesota Project.

The truth about Solar in Minnesota

I recently returned from Greenbuild in Phoenix, where the Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona built a LEED-Platinum Zero Energy Home! The Legacy Project, constructed in 5 days, was built for around $120,000 (including building materials and donated goods and labor), and used solar panels to offset the energy use in the home. After having a conversation with a good building contractor friend who is trying to be more green, I decided to investigate the truth about solar in Minnesota.

Does Minnesota have enough sun? Phoenix has 350 days a year of sunshine and definitely should be taking advantage of solar energy production. Minnesota actually has a lot of solar potential as well. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota has more annual solar potential than Houston, Texas. They are a great resource for information on solar feasibility in Minnesota and even have a map that demonstrates solar potential. After looking at this site, you will see that while you may never create excess energy to go back into the grid, the potential for solar is definitely there. Combine this with a well-sealed house and energy-efficient appliances and living behaviors (e.g. turning off your computer when not in use), and you may be completely set!

Aren't solar panels still just too expensive? There are actually a lot of funding sources out there right now. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency can help you find funding for your renewable energy project. Like all things, they do cost money, but as energy prices increase over the next few years, the solar panels may be paying for themselves.

So what about local options? Can you get solar panels that both travel short distances and support our local economy? Minnesota offers two solar panel production plants:

SolarSkies in Starbuck, MN
tenKsolar in Bloomington, MN

What if I just don't like the look of solar panels or am not sold on solar?

Don't forget that the sun can help in ways other than just energy production - passive solar heating (orienting a house with south-facing windows that heat a large thermal mass) and solar hot water systems work great in Minnesota!

Other renewable energy options are also available. The Clean Energy Resource Team (CERTS) network and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society can help point you in the right direction.


So great job, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona! Click here to see how Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota is accomplishing its own green goals.

Made in Minnesota: sourcing local building materials

I just returned from Greenbuild 2009, and the talk this year was focused on reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions. So how do you do this in your community, workplace, home, or building project? One of the simplest ways to do this is to choose local building materials.
I have talked about local in the past and thankfully, there are now even more resources to help you source local building materials right here in Minnesota.

The Dovetail Partners - Minnesota Made project assists communities in meeting sustainability goals and builds projects that use products nearest to specific communities. Dovetail works with the local contractors to put money back into the community, provides green building education, and calculates the environmental impact of using local building materials for each project. Dovetail also offers a map of local building materials and the report Green Building Materials - Made in Minnesota.

The Midwest Home Magazine - Made in Minnesota database allows you to search from over 300 products made in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Building Materials Database from the University of Minnesota's Center for Sustainable Building Research provides a wide array of technical information on building materials, including location and distance traveled for manufacturing.

Remember: not only does choosing local building materials help the environment, but it also helps the local economy!

Greening your existing home in Minnesota

The summer is almost over, and now is a great time to be making those energy improvements to your home! One great resource in Minnesota is the Neighborhood Energy Consortium. They can help you test your home's energy efficiency and also find energy loans, rebates and tax incentives to pay for improvements.

They also offer a great online tool which takes you room by room of a house, focusing on ways to reduce energy use without making huge improvements. Click here for the ENERGYSTAR @ Home Tool.

Zero Energy Homes on Display in Minnesota

In Sweden, there was a lot of talk about zero-energy (and even energy-producing!) homes. But you don't have to travel overseas to learn what exactly a zero energy house looks like - in August and September two eco-friendly homes will be viewable right here in Minnesota.

2008 Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair, photo by Charles Bevier

One of the homes will be featured in the Progress Center at the fourth annual Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair August 27-September 7, 2009. The Eco Experience is put on by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and focuses on holistic sustainable living. The Eco Home is currently under construction and has a goal of being carbon-neutral. Some of the features include solar panels, stormwater management, geothermal heating and cooling, electric appliances, and a carport instead of a garage. Although the home will be 4-bedrooms and 2,200 sq.ft. and have a bigger footprint than previous years, it is being designed to be net-zero energy based on "typical" living practices and should fit on a typical 50' city lot. Besides the Eco Home, the Eco Experience will also display other green products and services, showcase the U of M's solar car that recently won a 850 mile race, and offer local healthy food options such as caprese salad on a stick!

Winner of 2007 Solar Decathlon, Technische Universität Darmstadt

The Solar Decathlon ICON House will be on display in August. The ICON house is being designed, engineered, and constructed by the University of Minnesota's Solar Decathlon Team to be Zero Energy and completely powered by the sun. It is currently under construction at the ReUse Center and was designed with architectural features that blend easily into a residential neighborhood. It is being designed using a whole systems design approach, life-cycle focused sustainability, and with the Minnesota climate in mind - see some of the solar components and design aspects here. In October, the ICON house will compete against 19 other Decathlon Teams in Washington, DC for the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar house. Images and plans of the house will be on display at the University of Minnesota's Exhibit at the State Fair on Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood street August 30th and 31st. The house will be on display at the East Bank of the University of Minnesota in August and near the Equine Center on the Saint Paul campus during the State Fair. Buses to the Equine Center and the Eco Experience are currently being arranged. Stay tuned for further updates!

Renewable Energy Businesses in Minnesota

Renewable energy is a hot topic in all areas. Here is a link that I've recently found helpful in finding local renewable energy options, in terms of locally manufactured, locally installed, and locally available funding: Renewable Energy Businesses in Minnesota. I hope this, in combination with some available renewable energy tax credits, can help bring renewable energy to your project!

Minnesota Rebate Update

The CERTS network has just released updates on energy happenings across Minnesota, including the MN Solar Hot Water Rebate (there is still $46,000 available) and the MN Solar Electric Rebate Program (program is now full but they are taking applications for a waiting list in case the program is extended). There is also information on the MHFA's Micro-Energy Loan Program and Fix-up Fund for residential home energy improvements, updates to Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon (deadline is December 15th) as well as information on what is happening in each region in Minnesota.

Click here to see the full update, or to see what is happening in your region.