Metro CERT 2026 Annual Event

Metro CERT 2026 Annual Event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with new and familiar faces from community-based organizations, small and local businesses, local governments, utilities, state agencies, the clean energy sector, and anyone passionate about advancing clean energy in the metro and surrounding areas. If you’ve attended in past years, you already know it’s a space to learn, network, feel inspired, and spark meaningful conversations.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘rooted in community, resilient together.’ It’s been a year of hardship in the clean energy world, and especially in our immigrant and underserved communities. We hope to use this event to uplift projects that demonstrate the resilience that communities can grow when embedded with trusted and reciprocal relationships, and the resources to collectively achieve a vision.

The program will include engaging speakers, opportunities for discussion, and a space to imagine what’s next in our region’s clean energy journey. Following the program, we’ll offer light hors d'oeuvres (accommodating most diets), along with a cash bar.

We especially welcome new attendees and local residents. Join us for learning, connections, and great conversation!

Agenda

4-4:30 p.m. | Sign in and Networking

4:30-6:30 p.m. | Program

• Metro CERT Year in Review
• Community Energy Ambassadors program highlight
• Resilient community projects fireside chat
• Table conversations

6:30-8 p.m. | Networking

Sponsors

A BIG thank you to our generous sponsors for ensuring that this event remains free and accessible to everyone who wants to participate!

Gigawatt ($5,000)

• City of Minneapolis
• Great River Energy

Kilowatt ($1,000)

• Center for Energy and Environment
• CenterPoint Energy
• EnerChange
• Energy Smart
• Minnesota Department of Commerce - Division of Energy Resources
• Ramsey County

Watt ($500)

• Sunrise Banks
• Dakota Electric Association

Event Details

See below for more details about parking. We will have a prize drawing for attendees who carpool, bike, or take public transportation to the event! More details will be shared in your confirmation and event reminder emails.

Parking details: There is on-site parking with 160 spaces right at the building (8800 Chalet Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438) and additional parking down the road from the building (Trailhead Normandale lot, Hyland Park).

Carpool sign-up sheet details: If you’d like to coordinate transportation with others, you can use our Group Carpool & Ride Share Signup Sheet.

• If you’re offering a ride, add your vehicle to the list.
• If you’re looking for a ride and don’t see an available carpool, add your name to the waitlist.
• If you see an open carpool, simply add your name to join that ride.

Please be sure to coordinate directly with your driver and fellow riders once you’ve signed up. You should receive email updates about your carpool at the address provided, but check your spam!

By registering for the Metro CERT 2026 Annual Event, you are opting in to receive our newsletter, where we share updates on clean energy efforts and opportunities across Minnesota.

We will have photographers on-site. If you prefer not to be photographed, please contact Olivia ([email protected]) in advance or let a staff member know at check‑in.

Registration will close on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 5 p.m.!

About Metro CERT

Clean Energy Resources Teams (CERTs) is a statewide partnership of the University of Minnesota Extension, Great Plains Institute, MN Department of Commerce, and Southwest Regional Development Commission. CERTs connects individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects, in seven regions across the state. The Metro region is made up of 11 counties in and surrounding the Saint Paul – Minneapolis metropolitan area. Great Plains Institute is one of four CERTs partners and leads the Metro CERT region.

Find CERTs on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Bluesky, and tag us with #MetroCERT

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Metro Clean Energy Resource Team and Great Plains Institute