News

This article examines MN's Efficient Technology Accelerator, a statewide market transformation program funded by investor-owned utilities, administered by MN Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, and implemented by CEE. In the article, Carl Nelson, CEE's VP of market solutions, explains how the innovative approach helps deploy highly efficient technologies in the market faster, lowering costs and bringing benefits to more consumers.

CEE's president Chris Duffrin shares thoughts on recent reporting that Energy Star may be eliminated. As an energy efficiency program designer and implementer for homes and businesses, CEE relies on Energy Star as a uniquely trusted partner and resource.

Spring is a great time to check your home's energy use and think about energy efficiency improvements with a Home Energy Squad visit. In this piece, KARE 11 features an audit and highlights some of the same-day changes your auditor and counselor can provide. Home Energy Squad is provided by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy and delivered by Center for Energy and Environment.
 

This news article from Finance and Commerce highlights MN's first benchmarking law that requires all large building owners in major MN cities and counties to submit energy data to the Department of Commerce by June 1. In connection to that, CEE's Molly Janis shares her knowledge on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a tool that offers crucial insights into building performance by providing energy use intensity data per square foot, allowing building owners to see how their properties compare to competitors.

Based on feedback gathered confidentially from employees, Center for Energy and Environment has been named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplace. In 2024, CEE was also named a Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota by Star Tribune, and was recognized nationally as an employer of choice among participating U.S. nonprofits and for its attention to employee well-being. 

Sponsored by the Highland and Macalester-Groveland district councils, this year’s Home Improvement Workshop Day offers a dozen workshops on everything from home maintenance and remodeling to solar energy and saving money on utility bills. 

CEE's outreach specialist Gerardo Roca will be on stage to explain how residents can make their homes increasingly energy efficient, including changes that can be completed quickly at little cost, slightly more expensive upgrades, and longer-term investments.

In this news story, we cover the story of Kathy Palmer, a Minneapolis homeowners who recently supplemented her gas system with a heat pump. The process is made affordable thanks to rebate program form the state. A CEE spokesperson shared some info that Minnesota utilities will make heat-pump rebate data publicly available starting in April 2025.

The board of directors of Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) recently welcomed new member Pepe Wonosikou. CEE’s current strategic plan prioritizes equitable decarbonization and better access to promising efficiency technologies, as well as organizational sustainability and strategic growth, all positioned to benefit from Wonosikou’s strengths in organizational planning and leadership.  

CEE's policy lead Audrey Partridge weighed in recently with Star Tribune about the rapid rise of giant data centers in MN and key considerations for meeting their massive power needs. Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are among the many companies starting to eye various sites throughout Minnesota for their data centers.

CEE's Sarah Northrup spoke with Mike Miller of the Spark'n Conversations podcast about CEE's career training program and how we support both trainees and contractors in reaching their goals. Sarah and Mike discussed post-training job placement, trainee success stories, and how contractors can get involved in CEE's work as guest speakers, trainers, preferred contractors, and more.