Thank you to our Outreach partners in 2024!

As 2024 comes to a close, the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota would like to extend a special thank you to a few organizations that we’ve worked closely with over the course of the year. These partnerships, and many others, are critical for CUB to do its work helping people save energy, save money, and gain a better understanding of energy policy in Minnesota. Our partners across the state invite CUB to events to table and give talks, and they refer consumers to our free consultation services.  This type of collaboration allows us to serve a large and diverse array of energy consumers each year.    

Electrify Everything 
Center for Energy and Environment; Cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park 

CUB has been supporting the Center for Energy and Environment’s (CEE) city-based initiative Electrify Everything since it launched in 2023. The program’s goal is to provide education and resources to help homeowners transition from fossil-fuel powered appliances to electric alternatives. CUB has tabled at events in each of the partner cities. It’s been a pleasure to educate residents on the most impactful electrification technologies. Electrify Everything also provides valuable connections to quality contractors and financial resources to empower homeowners from start to finish of an electrification project. 

Energy Efficiency Peer Learning Cohort 
Community Power; Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy 

The Energy Efficiency Peer Learning Cohort was established in 2019 and is a collaborative group of local organizations and community members in the Twin Cities metro focused on improving the design and delivery of energy efficiency programs. The Cohort work has a special emphasis on addressing inequalities experienced by low-income, renter, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  CUB has been part of the Planning Team of the Cohort since its inception. The Cohort is developing a navigator pilot program to help community members access programs and implement energy efficiency improvements in their homes. You can learn more about the cohort’s work here. 

Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action (COPAL) 

Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action (COPAL) is a member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latine families. CUB has partnered with COPAL for several years, sharing information about energy resources in both English and Spanish.  CUB is working closely with COPAL on the Clean Heat Minnesota Initiative.  

Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) 

CUB has been a long-time partner of Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), a partnership that connects individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. CERTs has a ton of great information on home energy use, and they have been a leader in public education around rebates and incentives made available through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. We regularly refer consumers to CERTs’ resources and have greatly enjoyed joining them at food shelf tabling events across the state focusing on issues of energy assistance, energy affordability programs, and weatherization. 

Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL) 

Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MNIPL) works in partnership with multifaith communities and all Minnesotans to address the climate crisis. MNIPL is another long-time partner.  In the past year we have given electrification talks and workshops with MNIPL at congregations throughout the Metro. We provided in-depth information about the current state of energy policy in Minnesota and dug deep into opportunities for community members to electrify their home energy use, while taking advantage of rebates and incentives to make projects more affordable.  

Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) 

CUB has collaborated with the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) throughout our history, including developing resources specific to farmhouse energy use.  We’ve regularly attended MFU’s annual convention, sharing energy related information and learning from MFU members across the state. This year, we collected responses to an energy survey, gaining a better understanding of residential home energy use in greater Minnesota. Responses to the survey will help inform our work in 2025. We’ll be spending a lot of time in electric cooperative and municipal utility territory next year, spreading the word about energy affordability and efficiency opportunities, as well as educating community members about rebates and incentives made available to make homes more energy efficient and electrify home energy use. MFU is a valued collaborator in these efforts. 

City of Bloomington 

The City of Bloomington is dedicated to spreading the word about energy affordability programs available to their residents. Throughout 2024, we’ve collaborated with the city to share and develop resources to educate residents about energy efficiency and spread the word about programs like Energy Assistance and utility affordability programs. In December we tabled at the Light Bulb & Learn event at Penn Lake Library, distributing resources related to energy affordability and efficiency. We look forward to continuing this series with Bloomington in 2025 – stop by on January 29 or February 19 if you’re able! 

Worthington Public Library & Worthington Community Education 

This year, CUB spent a lot of time in Worthington. We gave presentations at the Nobles County Library and gave presentations to Worthington Community Education classes for ESL students.  CUB is dedicated to ensuring that ratepayers from all Minnesota utilities are heard and have access to energy resources and education. We appreciated the opportunity to spend time in southwest Minnesota and develop new connections.   

Looking towards 2025 & the Importance of Partnership 

Each year CUB seeks to maintain and strengthen existing partnerships and develop new partnerships. It’s important to us to serve the wide variety of communities across our state--learning about energy concerns and sharing resources to help households, whatever their needs might be.  If you’re interested in collaborating, email our Outreach Director, Carmen Carruthers, at carmenc@cubminnesota.org.