Northfield has a history of local grassroots efforts, both in the community and at the colleges, to promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources. Listed below are some of the past and present initiatives.
Citizens Climate Lobby –Northfield Group
As a follow-up to the Climate Summit, a Northfield Area Climate Lobby is being organized to pursue meaningful action relating to climate change at the local, state and national level. Northfield Chapter meetings take place the 1st Saturday of each month. Time and location listed at: http://www.citizensclimatelobby-mn.org/ For more information on how you can help create the Political Will for a Livable World, visit http://citizensclimatelobby.org/
Contact: Bob Ciernia at bobciernia@gmail.com
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS)
The Clean Energy Resource Teams—or CERTs—are a statewide partnership with a shared mission to connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. Northfield is a member of the Southeast CERT which promotes education and action about community approaches to energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative (GNSC) was a recipient of a 2014 CERT SEED Grant, which helped fund creation of our current website.
Contact: See the CERTs website for contact information.
ISAIAH
ISAIAH is a vehicle for congregations, clergy, and people of faith to act collectively and powerfully towards racial and economic equity in the state of Minnesota. Climate and Energy issues are included in ISAIAH’s work. As Minnesota moves more and more toward increased use of renewable energy, low income families are being left behind. While they are the ones most likely to suffer from the continued use of fossil fuels, they have little or no access to the financing they need to participate in this new clean energy economy.
Contact: See the ISAIAH MN website for contact information.
Northfield Area Community Solar Project
The Northfield Area will soon be home to one of Minnesota’s first community solar gardens. Community organizers are working with a local developer, Minnesota Community Solar, who signed a lease with Eastgate Farms to place an array on their property. Anyone with an Xcel Energy account in Rice County or a surrounding county can participate. Subscribers can select the amount of energy that they wish to purchase from the smallest unit, a leaf, up to 120% of their actual energy usage. Read on…
Contact: nacsolargarden@gmail.com or mjcristofaro@gmail.com
RENew Northfield
RENew Northfield formed in March, 2001, as an ad-hoc grass-roots organization comprised of local citizens interested in exploring the options available to promote local development of renewable energy resources. We have been meeting regularly and communicating extensively via email since then on our listserv, which is hosted by Northfield Citizens Online. RENew Northfield incorporated as a nonprofit on December 5, 2001 and was granted tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status in 2003.
Contact: Christopher Ennis, Christopher.Ennis@normandale.edu
Transition Northfield
Transition Northfield is part of an international movement to relocalize, re-energize, and build resilience in our community. Transition Northfield also supports the Transition Youth, Resiliency Book Club, and Northfield Community Exchange programs.
Contact:info@transitionnorthfield.org