This page describes what I will be focusing on during my fellowship. These statements below, the first is my own, and the second is from CERTs, embody both my own beliefs about the possibility of community action and what my own work will revolve around.*
Problem/Issue I’m working on
Energy is a universal issue, but it is especially affecting us on a community level in terms of local economic resilience and environmental quality. Addressing local energy issues holds the additional opportunity for communities to gain more than energy resiliency or independence. I will work with communities to explore ways to raise awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency that not only save energy and the associated costs, but also provide distinct and tangible leadership-building and learning opportunities for communities. Approaching a problem, such as energy costs and its environmental consequences or other issues, with a community-based social marketing approach can address these problems while increasing the ability for communities to address future challenges.
And since I remain employed by and my fellowship is supported by my work at the MN Clean Energy Resource Teams, I want to include a statement about my “charge” with them:
MN Clean Energy Resource Teams connect you and your community members with resources to identify and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
The Clean Energy Resource Teams are diverse—individuals, small business owners, farmers, members of environmental groups, local utility representatives, local, state and federal government staff and elected leaders, academics—and all share common goals and values. They want strong communities, local jobs, and secure, clean, reliable energy.
The CERTs approach is one of pragmatism and cooperation. It’s a model for how tangible economic, social and environmental benefits can be achieved by reaching across traditional interest groups and taking a true, community-based approach. In fact, CERTs has become something of a model for community-based clean energy.
To learn more, visit http://mncerts.org
*I expect some overlap with my CERTs work and Fellowship work, that being said, there will continue to be aspects that are purely CERTs-related and Fellowship-related.
