Issue 260 - January 28, 2010

Thanks for your continuing interest. We hope that the following timely information will assist you in promoting attitudes and practices in your community that are socially, environmentally, and economically sound. These updates typically include a great deal of material sent in by members; send suggestions to nextstep@state.mn.us. We also encourage you to forward this update to others and to reprint material from the update.

January 28, 2010, Newsletter #260

In this issue:

Energy Resources: OES and CERTs

Psychology of Sustainable Behavior handbook

Peak Moment TV and YES! Magazine

US EPA Rachel Carson Contest

Money Available

Jobs

Upcoming Events

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Minnesota Office of Energy Security -- energy information

The Minnesota Office of Energy Security (OES), Minnesota Department of Commerce, works to move Minnesota toward a sustainable energy future, managing energy assistance funds, advocating in the public interest on energy utility rates and facility siting. It provides information and assistance to residents, builders, utilities, non-profits and policy-makers on home improvements, financial assistance, renewable technologies, policy initiatives, and utility regulations.

The comprehensive OES web site, accessible through www.energy.mn.gov , contains sections on the following:

- Efficiency

- Renewables

- Utilities

- Project Funding

- Data and Reports

- Low Income Assistance

- Federal Stimulus Energy Info

In addition, the web site contains information about the latest in energy-related stimulus opportunities, incentives, and rebates along with Requests For Proposals (RFPs) for energy grants and programs. Visitors have the opportunity to sign up for email notifications about programs and resources of interest, and to ask specific energy questions through an ongoing FAQ section on the website.

The staff members of the OES Energy Information Center are also a helpful resource for information related to conservation, efficiency and renewables, and can be reached at 800/657-3710 (MN only), or 651/296-5175, or energy.info@state.mn.us

Clean Energy Resource Teams -- communities working together

http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/

The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) project is a public-private partnership that works to connect people to technical resources, research energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and projects, identify and provide project funding resources, and hosts meetings and facilitates gatherings. Its central goal is to help community members get clean energy projects on the ground in Minnesota.

Divided into seven regions each with its own diverse team, steering committee, and staff (Central, Metro, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and West Central), CERTs works to play a role in shaping energy conservation and renewable energy implementation in each part of the state. CERTs staff are also available to assist cities looking into the soon-to-launch GreenStep Cities program.

At the web site above, you can learn more about CERTs, browse through their comprehensive resources, find out about grants offered, subscribe to regular updates, check out upcoming events, and find out who your regional contacts are! It's worth a visit.

The Psychology of Sustainable Behavior

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/publications/p-ee1-01.pdf

This 34-page 2009 handbook by Christine Manning, Ph.D. introduces research-based tips from psychology to help you in efforts to empower sustainability in your personal life, community, and workplace.

The recommendations are based on empirical research - many years of psychological studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The book focuses on those findings most relevant to sustainability and sustainable behavior change.

The Psychology of Sustainable Behavior was funded, in part, through a 2007 MPCA Environmental Assistance grant and can be accessed through the web site above.

Peak Moment TV

http://www.wordpress.peakmoment.tv/

A wide range of over 100 interesting sustainability videos produced by Oregon-based partners Robyn Mallgren and Janaia Donaldson is available for free viewing on the web site above (click on "Conversations").

Although the videos typically touch on peak energy issues, they cover a wide range of topics related to sustainability - with recent postings about local food production, simple living, permaculture, human-powered transportation, graywater, and a sense of place.

The videos are 28 minutes each, and have a common format in which one or two individuals are interviewed conversationally and informally regarding to their topic of expertise, often in an outdoors setting. Watching these is a great way to learn about a variety of cutting edge topics, if you have an extra half-hour to spare.

YES! Magazine web site

http://www.yesmagazine.org/

YES! Magazine is a quarterly sustainability-related publication ($17/year to subscribe for printed copies) that also maintains a comprehensive web site that goes well beyond the magazine's content. Feature articles are continually posted on the site, making it a worthwhile destination for those interested in sustainable communities.

Each printed issue typically focuses on a theme, and much of the magazine's Winter 2010 issue on Climate Action (http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/climate-action) is available online. Articles from recent past issues on Food, the Economy, Education, and Happiness also easily accessible on the site.

YES! is published by the Washington-based nonprofit Positive Futures Network.

US EPA Rachel Carson Contest

http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites the public to submit creative projects to the 4th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" contest. The categories are poetry, photography, essays and dance. The contest seeks to instill a sense of wonder for the environment among all generations and spur environmental stewardship.

Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, Silent Spring. Its publication is credited with reversing the nation's pesticide policy.

Entries must be from a team of two or more persons from both younger and older generations. EPA is working with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United to sponsor this contest.

The deadline for team entries is June 16, 2010. The winners will be announced in October 2010. The public will have the opportunity to vote among the finalists for the winners in each category.

For more information, see the web site above.

Money Available

Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) 2011-2012 Grants - Proposals due April 9, 2010

http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/RequestforProposals/2011-2012/2011-2012_rfp.pdf

The LCCMR has issued its 2011-2012 Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund beginning July 1, 2011.

Proposals are being sought that provide multiple ecological and other public benefits in specific areas of the following eight categories:

1. Natural Resource Data and Information

2. Water Resources

3. Methods to Protect, Restore, and Enhance Land and Habitat

4. Land Acquisition for Habitat and Recreation

5. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species

6. Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Air Quality

7. Environmental Education

8. Creative Ideas

For detailed descriptions of the specific priorities under each of the eight categories, and other information pertaining to the LCCMR's proposal and funding process, visit the link above or visit http://www.lccmr.leg.mn and click on "2011-2012 Request for Proposal".

Anyone with a project idea consistent with the RFP may submit a proposal for consideration by the LCCMR. LCCMR staff are available to assist proposers, answer questions, or review and provide feedback on drafts of proposals. Proposers are encouraged to submit proposal drafts to help ensure proposals are focused, clear, and contain all necessary information. Drafts must be received by April 5, 2010 to allow adequate time for staff to review.

Proposals responding to the 2011-2012 RFP are due Friday, April 9, 2010. During Summer and Fall 2010, the LCCMR will be considering all proposals received in response to the 2011-2012 RFP and selecting projects to recommend to the 2011 Minnesota Legislature. Project funding does not become available until July 1, 2011. It is intended that this RFP will be the only standard RFP that will be issued until February 2012 (for funding beginning July 1, 2013). Any project seeking funding to begin July 1, 2012 should reply to this RFP.

Kathy Kinzig Grant at Eco Education

http://ecoeducation.org/kathy-kinzig-grant

[Kathy Kinzig had served as the NextStep web site's Education Topic Guide for several years, until her death from cancer at age 43 in December 2008. Her many contributions to NextStep are missed.]

Grants of up to $2,000 are available to support professional and personal learning in the field of environmental education. Teachers with more than three years of classroom experience who are connected to Eco Education's City Connections or Urban Stewards program may apply. Applications are due March 1, 2010. For more information, see the web site above.

Jobs Available and Jobs Wanted at www.nextstep.state.mn.us/jobs.cfm

See the NextStep job board for a variety of organizational postings including these below, talented people offering their skills, and other job listings that post jobs in the field of sustainability.

Current postings include: - Great Plains Institute: Energy Efficiency/GreenStep City Program Associate

- Conservation Corps Minnesota: youth crew leaders

- Eureka Recycling: several internships

- Friends of the Mississippi River: Program Assistant

- Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate: Urban Farmer

Here are other job listings and resources:

- SEEK (environmental education): http://www.seek.state.mn.us/jobs.cfm

- MEP: http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_jobs.asp

- MN Council of Nonprofits: http://www.mncn.org/jobs/default.asp

- Idealist: http://www.idealist.org

- National Green Collar Jobs Board: http://www.sustainlane.com/green-jobs

- MinnesotaWorks.net: https://www.minnesotaworks.net/

- Discover Green Jobs http://www.positivelyminnesota.com/JobSeekers/Discover_Green_Jobs/index.aspx

Upcoming Events at www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar.cfm

Featured events include:

Jan. 30 Intro to Renewable Energy Options St. Paul

Feb. 15-16 Third Home Grown Economy Conference Marshall

Feb. 18, 19 Paul Hawken talks (2) St. Peter & St. Paul

Feb. 22 - 24 Duluth Energy Design Conference Duluth

Feb. 24 GreenStep Cities Seminar - Austin Austin, MN

See these and many other upcoming events at the NextStep Calendar, onto which anyone can post events, for:

- Other future and past events

- Links to other web-based calendars for:

o Sustainable Agriculture

o Environmental Education

o Minnesota River Events

o Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living

o Transportation

o Green Buildings

If you are receiving this e-mail and have not registered as an MnSCN member (i.e., given us your mailing address which puts you on the postal mail list for a member directory, a yearly Digest of new publications, tools and case studies, and yearly MnSCN meetings), please join by sending an e-mail to nextstep@state.mn.us with your name, organizational affiliation (if any), address, phone (optional) and FAX. Also note if you would not like to have your name shared with others in the MnSCN member directory published each year.

This list does not offer members the ability to post information directly to it.

For further information and questions about the MPCA or the MnSCN, please feel free to contact Philipp Muessig or Paul Moss at 651/296-6300 or 800/657-3864, or see www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/sc/

We encourage submissions of local examples of sustainable community activities, guidebooks and other tools, studies, speakers, conferences, workshops, meetings, grant and loan funds, and courses that might be of interest to MnSCN members. Please e-mail us: nextstep@state.mn.us. Your response will not be posted directly to this list, but will be considered for inclusion in a future update to MnSCN members.