The Clean Energy Resource Teams of Southeast Minnesota announce funding available for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects requiring technical assistance.

“CERTs offers seed grants with two primary objectives in mind: to encourage implementation of community-based clean energy projects across the state, and to provide an educational forum for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and their economic, community and ecological benefits,” said Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs statewide coordinator.

Each of the seven CERTs regions in Minnesota has a $40,000 pool of funding. Generally, teams have funded projects in the $5,000 range, however funding requests up to $10,000 will be considered. Each regional CERTs Steering Committee will make its own selections and the funding level will vary by region. Projects approved for funding must be completed by Dec. 30, 2010.

Project funding can support technical assistance services (labor costs only, such as for a consultant, design professional, installer or student labor.) In past funding cycles in the Southeast Region, CERTs has helped fund solar projects at high schools in Rochester, Winona and Northfield, biomass studies with both the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and the Winona Soil and Water Conservation District, and the RE-fest energy fair in Austin.

Funding for these projects is provided through the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security. Proposals must be submitted no later than Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m.

To learn more, visit www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/communityprojects/request-for-proposals.