By Topic or Project Type
Resources by topic area.
(scroll down to next section if you're seeking resources about the proposed Federal Uniform Guidance changes).
Technical assistance is a specialized resource, service or expertise that exists outside of an organization that helps fill a gap or advance a goal.
DIMENSIONS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Format: report, data, tool, software or tech, template,
training, webinar, office hours, 1:1 sessions, direct service
Delivery method: In-person, online, hybrid
An entity offering TA may be a: nonprofit, business, higher ed institution, govt agency, association/coalition, public-private partnership
Delivered by: individual, team, coalition, program, course
Provided as: indirect or direct service
Relationship: transactional or relational
Style: customized or standardized
Duration: one-time or ongoing
Cost: fee-based or no-cost
Climate adaptation is a process or actions taken to adjust to the actual and expected effects of climate.
Resilience is the ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and adjust to climate impacts.
What are the differences between mitigation and adaptation? Mitigation and adaptation are two complementary ways people can respond to climate change. Mitigation is action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the amount of warming our planet will experience. Adaptation is action to help people adjust to the current and future effects of climate change (MIT Climate Portal).
Resources
- Climate adaptation resources (MPCA website)
- Climate Change & Adaptation Topics in Minnesota (Nature Conservancy)
Organizations
Sustainable agriculture is an integrated system of farming that satisfies human food needs, enhances environmental quality, sustains the economic viability of farm operations, and improves the quality of life for farmers and society.
Climate-smart food systems build upon these principles by aiming to nourish the population while explicitly reducing climate pollution and adapting to extreme weather.
Technical Assistance
Funding
- Climate Smart Food Systems - Minnesota The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Minnesota $200 million to cut climate pollution from our state’s food systems through the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. Led by the MPCA in collaboration with other state agencies, local governments, and Tribal Nations, the climate-smart food systems initiative will distribute this investment through multiple programs through September 2029. Funding opportunities will be posted under the project areas on MPCA's website as they are available.
A community benefit agreement (CBA) is a legally binding contract between coalitions of community-based organizations and developers that shapes how local development projects contribute to improving quality of life for nearby residents. When implemented effectively, CBA processes shift power more evenly to ensure the residents most impacted by development projects have a say in the priorities for the new investments.
A community benefit plan (CBP) is a voluntary guideline outlining how a developer plans to collaborate with communities throughout their privately-funded projects. A CBP can help set the stage for future legal agreements and rules around the benefits communities receive from this project.
Resources
- Using Community Benefit Agreements to Actually Benefit Communities - community benefits agreements database from BlueGreen Alliance with several case studies and resources
- State Legislative Requirements for Community Benefits Agreements in Renewable Energy Projects - highlights six state examples of how legislative CBA requirements can potentially ensure robust, enforceable benefits packages for disadvantaged or host communities, Initiative for Energy Justice
- Community Benefits Agreement Toolkit (Dept. of Energy) - offers guidance on how to co-develop a legally binding CBA between a developer and community to ensure community-driven and defined benefits.
- Cumulative Impact Conversations: Community Benefits Agreements (video) - insights on community benefits agreements convened by the MN Pollution Control Agency
- GPI, Community Benefits Agreements for Solar Development Resource Guide - guide for local government staff and officials to create community benefits agreements (CBAs) for proposed solar projects, including how to assemble a CBA coalition, communicating with developers, and drafting a CBA.
- Community benefit plan - overview and resources from Reimagining Appalachia.
- A Guide to Better Data Center Policy for Local Governments - overview of ordinance approaches with alongside community benefits agreements
- How Community Benefits Are Delivered Matters - RMI - analysis of 200+ large-scale clean energy projects
Understanding data centers
- Overview of hyperscale data centers by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)
Resources
- Holding Data Centers Accountable: A Guide to Federal Environmental Permitting (Published by Environmental Protection Network), Full Guide | Summary
- NRCD report: Regarding air quality, water quality, public health, the environment links to asthma
Tracking Data Centers in Minnesota
- List of MN Data Centers, Cleanview
- The latest on MN data centers: Pine Island & Hermantown, Citizens Utility Boards (CUB)
Policy advising
MORE DATA SETS + TOOLS (BY TOPIC)
Screening Tools & Maps: Environmental Justice & Climate - National
- Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) (updated link!)
- Data.gov (255K+ data sets to use)
- Environmental Justice Index (CDC/HHS)
Screening Tools & Maps: Environmental Justice & Climate - States
Agriculture
Air
- Air Quality Data Tools (EPA)
Resources for Community Air Monitoring Approaches
- AQ-SPEC Sensor Evaluation Summary Tables:
Broadband
Buildings
- Equitable Building Electrification - A Framework for Powering Resilient Communities (The Greenlining Institute)
Climate / Resiliency / Adaptation
- U.S. Geological Survey - Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs)
Community Benefits Agreements (and Plans)
- Community Benefits Agreement Toolkit (Dept. of Energy)
CDFIs & Green Banks
Economic Development
Energy
Extreme Heat
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
- Bettering Your GHG and Renewable Energy Reporting webinar recording, slides, and Q&A follow-up and links.
Forestry
Health
- COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (Surge Ventures)
Housing
Lead Paint
Policy
Transportation / Transit / Mobility
- Transportation Data Tools (Data.gov)
- Urban Bikeway Design Guide (NACTO)
Water
- Rivers Network Water Policy Hub (state-by-state)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
- Quality Assurance Introductory Webinar (Climate Justice Alliance and Environmental Protection Network)
- Recording English + Spanish (Passcode: Z&7egq?z)
The EPA training seminars and presentations on QAPPs:
- EPA’s webinar presentation: Quality Assurance Project Plans
Energy efficiency means using less energy to perform the same task. In other words - eliminating energy waste.
Benefits: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering costs for households and economy-wide
Sector-wide impacts: buildings, transportation, industry, and energy generation and distribution.
Organizations
- Center for Environment and Energy (CEE) - all things energy efficiency for homes, buildings, and businesses. Offers energy efficiency consulting services, and home energy squad.
- Enerchange - provides free energy efficiency services for nonprofits, and can offer fee-based services to other entities.
- Citizens Utility Board Minnesota - nonprofit that advocates for affordable, reliable, and clean energy, while providing expert guidance to help residents navigate their rights and reduce home energy costs.
- Community Power - nonprofit dedicated to transforming Minnesota's energy landscape by empowering communities through education and advocacy to make clean, local, equitable, affordable, and resilient energy, including efficiency, accessible to all residents.
- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) - a collaborative network promoting energy efficiency to optimize energy generation, reduce consumption, create jobs and decrease carbon emissions in all Midwest communities.
Resources + Tools
- Minnesota Energy Efficiency Policy Database (from ACEEE)
For Homeowners
- Home Energy Squad - provided by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy and implemented by the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), Home Energy Squad offers in-home energy audits for any Minnesota resident with a CenterPoint or Xcel account. Customers can choose from a regular audit or an enhanced audit, with options including blower door tests and infrared camera scans to detect air leaks and insulation gaps.
- Xcel Energy & CenterPoint Online Tools - discounted home energy audits delivered by CEE and ICF, available at about 75% less than market value, providing a comprehensive plan for your home and lifestyle.
- MN Dept. of Commerce: Home Energy Guide - offers a Home Energy Guide with practical ideas to improve home energy use, along with rebate programs for heat pump installations and electrical panel upgrades, with eligibility and amounts varying based on household income.
- MN Homeowner Heat Pump Water Heater Calculator - This tool by the Center for Energy and Environment helps homeowners determine the savings and payback period for installing a heat pump water heater as a replacement for a standard electric resistance water heater.
For Businesses
- Xcel Energy Business Energy Studies & Audits - free tools and funded energy studies to help businesses find and address energy efficiencies in their buildings, with rebates available to make audits more affordable.
- MnTAP (Minnesota Technical Assistance Program) - offers no-cost, non-regulatory on-site assessments for larger, energy-intensive facilities such as wastewater treatment plants, ice arenas, and transportation garages, focused on reducing waste and energy. State
- RETAP (Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program) -leverages skilled retired professionals to provide free facility assessments to small businesses, institutions, and governments, including on-site visits to identify opportunities for energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction.
- Interval Data Screening Tool for Agricultural/Commercial Sites — This Excel-based tool analyzes electric energy consumption interval data to identify anomalies that may indicate opportunities for energy efficiency and conservation, and can be used at any type of site where interval data is collected.
For Building Operators & Public Buildings
- B3 Benchmarking (Buildings, Benchmarks & Beyond) - online energy and water benchmarking tool for Minnesota publicly owned buildings that summarizes energy consumption, water use, costs, and carbon emissions into digestible metrics and reports.
- EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager - Minnesota requires building owners of commercial and multifamily properties 50,000+ sq. ft. to report energy usage data to EPA's Portfolio Manager, a tool that allows building owners to compare their building's energy efficiency with similar buildings.
- Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) - provides guidance on energy audits and assessments, including benchmarking resources for cities, counties, schools, and state government to identify low- or no-cost improvement opportunities.
Geothermal energy is heat energy from the earth - geo (earth) + thermal (heat).
- geothermal district heating (GDH): A type of direct use in which a utility system supplies multiple users with hot water or steam from a central plant or well field through a distribution network (note: GDHs are a type of thermal energy network).
- geothermal heat pumps: technologies that uses the constant temperature of the shallow earth (40–70°F) to provide heating and cooling solutions to residential and commercial buildings)
- hydrothermal resource: a conventional geothermal resource (Underground system of hot water and/or steam) that can be tapped for electricity generation using existing technologies.
Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot water that exist or are human-made at varying temperatures and depths below the earth's surface. Wells ranging from a few feet to several miles deep can be drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water that can be brought to the surface for use in a variety of applications, including:
Heating and Cooling (most relevant for Minnesota!)
Geothermal resources such as naturally occurring underground reservoirs of hot water or the stable temperature of the subsurface can be used to heat and cool buildings. Geothermal heat pumps provide heating and cooling using the ground as a heat sink, absorbing excess heat when the aboveground temperatures are warmer, and as a heat source when aboveground temperatures are cooler. District heating and cooling systems use one or more types of geothermal systems, such as a series of geothermal heat pumps, in order to heat and cool groups of buildings, campuses, and even entire communities. Learn more about geothermal heating and cooling.
Direct Use
Geothermal direct use applications use wells—usually deeper than those for heat pumps—to draw hot water from the subsurface to directly provide hot water to buildings, space heating, or heat for industrial processes ranging from fish farming and greenhouses to drying pulp, paper, lumber, and other materials. Learn more about direct use. (Source: US Dept. of Energy)
Geothermal Resources
- Geothermal basics (U.S. DOE)
- Geothermal resource library (Geothermal Rising)
- Geothermal library (National Laboratory of the Rockies, NLR)
- Geothermal research & resources (Mountain West Geothermal Consortium)
- Minnesota Thermal Energy Network Site Suitability Study, 2026 (MN Dept. of Commerce)
- Geothermal Resources (MN Dept. of Health)
Data
- Mapping Thermal Grid Opportunities (2019 report), MN Dept. of Commerce
What's Happening In Minnesota?
- Building Decarbonization Coalition - published this legislative guidebook and these policies updates in Minnesota
- See initial list of participants in 2024
- MN Dept. of Health - geothermal regulations. And view this 2024 statement of need and reasonableness report
Who's Working On Geothermal?
Firms
Tech & Startups
Trainings
- Geo 101 Online Course | International Ground Source Heat Pump Association - IGSHPA’s Geo 101 self-paced, one hour, free, online course provides a comprehensive overview of GSHPs, covering everything you need to know about geothermal heat pumps; Whether you’re a homeowner exploring clean energy upgrades, a building professional looking to expand your expertise, or a utility seeking peak demand solutions, this is your starting point. Discover how ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are transforming heating and cooling, delivering over 400% efficiency, slashing energy costs, and tapping into the renewable thermal energy right under your property.
- Selecting a Ground Source Heat Pump Team | International Ground Source Heat Pump Association - IGSHPA course designed as a guide for architects, engineers/designers, building owners, client representative, developers, project managers and general contractors.
- CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 SERIES:25 | Codes & Standards | Product | CSA Group - 2nd Edition published in 2025 - standards for design and installation of ground source heat pump systems for commercial and residential buildings (fee to access).
Projetcs + Community Support
List of Geothermal Projects
- City of Rochester - Thermal Energy Network Project
- Saint Paul Port Authority - The Heights - Sustainable Development
- City of Robbinsdale - Robbinsdale Public Works Building - Geothermal, Solar, EV
- City of Robbinsdale - Sanborn Park Building
- Ramsey County - Rice Creek Commons
- City of Vadnais Heights - sustainable fire station design and construction
- City of Hopkins - Climate Action and Resiliency Plan
- City of Saint Paul - Municipal Buildings Decarbonization
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe - Decarbonization and microgridding of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe communities
- City of Crookston - Energy Reliability and Affordability in NW Minnesota
- City of Minneapolis - Native American Community Clinic and Housing Project
- City of Minneapolis - North Loop Garage
- City of St. Paul - Public Schools
- Westwood Hills - Westwood Hills Nature Center
- Anoka County Emergency Communications Center Geothermal System
- University of Minnesota Offsite Collections Facility Geothermal System
MPCA Geothermal Planning Grantees (2025)
- City of Crookston – The Woods Neighborhood
- Hennepin County – Government Center
- Ramsey County – Rice Creek Commons
- Ramsey County – TCO Sports Garden
- City of Sandstone – Sandstone School Redevelopment
- City of St Paul – Mount Airy Homes
- St Louis County – Central Range Transportation Building Relocation
- City of Woodbury – Sports Center
How to Pay for Geothermal Grants
Search our MN Climate & Energy Grants Tracker to view open and forecasted federal, state, and philanthropic grants.
Financing
- Oweesta Corporation (Tribes)
Elective Pay, Invesment Tax Credits, and Rebates
In the Media (News, Podcasts & Videos)
- Orono among 3 finalists for pilot energy project - article
- MN Renewable Energy Society June 2026 Talk - video
- CenterPoint article
- St. Paul article
- Carleton + universities article
- City of Rochester announcement
- Westwood Hills Nature Center article
- St. Paul recognized as "geothermal epicenter" city website
- This supersized heat pump will heat and cool a whole St. Paul neighborhood - article
- Could the future of renewables be beneath our feet? article
- How networked geothermal can help get Minnesota off fossil gas (2025) video
- One Hot (and Cool) Topic: Talking Geothermal Systems with Darcy Solutions (2024) podcast
- Darcy Solutions Groundwater-Enabled Geothermal Systems - video
- Hot Prospects for Geothermal Energy (2026) podcast
Not Yet In Minnesota (but maybe they should be?)
- A statewide or regional consortium like the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium that just launched in spring 2026
What is industrial decarbonization? It’s the process of eliminating or reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manufacturing, mining, and heavy industries (U.S. DOE).
Who's Working On This?
Request Industrial ENergy Assessments
Reports
- Industrial Clean Heat MN - overview of the regulatory landscape
- Advancing Industrial Electrification in Minnesota - roadmap for decarbonizing low- and medium-temp (LMT) process heat in manufacturing sector
- Clean steam (article): how some supersized energy users are looking to save money and lower climate impact despite shifting policy headwinds (MinnPost, May 27, 2026)
- Playbook for Decarbonizing Process Heat in the Food & Beverage Sector (report): outlines the major technology, market, and policy barriers to heat pump and electric boiler adoption and actionable recommendations for energy buyers and other stakeholders looking to deploy these decarbonization technologies (RTC, July 23)
Webinar Recording
Available Funding
Did you know? These grants ⬆️ are eligible for SCF matching dollars!
Two things:
- State Competitiveness Funds encourage Minnesota communities and Tribes to apply for eligible federal funding programs that advance the state’s climate action goals.
- If you anticipate applying for an eligible funding program (including these listed above), you can apply for SCF funds to help offset match requirements. Once you receive the federal award, you’ll be able to leverage SCF funds. If you don’t receive the federal award, Dept. of Commerce will simply un-obligate those funds.
Recieve No-Cost Grant Support (For these 2 grants, or other eligible federally-sourced grants)
- There are local organizations that can help you apply for these grants. Reach out to a provider on this local grant development support list, or contact Stacey Grant, MN TA Collab coordinator at stacey@pathconsulting.org and she’ll help connect you to the right no-cost provider.
Tools
- JUSTIFI - free, open-source tool for your clean energy or efficiency project published by NLR to estimate multiple benefits measured during energy assessment.
Industrial Heat Pump Reources
Resources
- Request Form - L4GG Fund Protection Clinic - legal support for grantees and subawardees of BIL and IRA federal funding, Lawyers for Good Government
- Green Pro Bono - connecting environmental organizations with pro bono legal services
Read Framework
Webinar (Recording)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) is a written document that provides a blueprint for the entire project and each specific task to ensure that the project produces reliable data. Many organizations, including EPA require QAPPs for projects that collect and use environmental data. Even at an early stage, EPA recommends projects provide some level of data quality documentation to help you communicate and make use of your data.
When do I need a QAPP?
You should consider creating a QAPP:
- If your project collects or uses environmental data
- if you want others to consider using your data
- For all projects funded by EPA that involve collection and/or use of environmental data
A QAPP aims to ensure the credibility of information collected or used by community scientists. A QAPP should be incorporated into all environmental data collection and use projects. The QAPP should describe specific goals and quality objectives for the project. A QAPP is especially important if you want others to consider using your information.
Quality Assurance Introductory Info
Additional QAPP Resources
- EPA’s webinar presentation: Quality Assurance Project Plans
Siting: The decision-making process for finding and selecting the physical location and layout for solar, wind, storage, or transmission facilities. It evaluates land access, resource strength (like wind or sun), and local zoning or setback limits.
Permitting: The official regulatory process of applying for, reviewing, and granting government approvals, local land-use rights, and environmental clearances before construction begins.
Oftentimes, siting and permitting require layers of legal authorization and approval processes that cut across Federal, state, local and Tribal governments.
Who's Working On This?
Resources
SolarAPP+ (Automated Permit Processing) delivers compliant and quick plan review of residential solar and energy storage permits for jurisdictions across Minnesota.
Over a dozen Minnesota jurisdictions currently use SolarAPP+ to automate permitting to validate project quality and save staff time on plan review.Learn how the leading online plan review platform can more efficiently bring clean energy to your communities, support local businesses and improve the quality of plans that your office reviews.
The MN Department of Commerce can help streamline residential solar permitting and provide up to $20,000 to support local governments across Minnesota.
Financial incentives up to $20,000 are available to local govts in MN that first adopt this FREE software (SolarAPP+) to standardize, automate, and streamline the review and permitting process.
Who can apply for the $20K funding to support Solar App+? Local units of government in Minnesota with authority to issue permits for residential solar projects.
How much is available? The MN Dept of Commerce administers $2M in SolarAPP+ incentives to local units of government across Minnesota. The Minnesota legislature established the SolarAPP+ Solar Permitting Software Incentive (Minn.Stat.216C.48) in 2024 to provide financial incentive and technical support for local governments adopting the SolarAPP+ online permitting platform.
When to apply? Applications are first-come, first-serve and reviewed monthly. The incentive will remain available until funds are fully expended or until June 30, 2028. Find full incentive details and application requirements.
For more information. Send general questions about the SolarAPP+ permitting platform and technical assistance inquiries to SolarAPP.comm@state.mn.us.
Please send questions specific to the RFP and application process to energy.contracts@state.mn.us
SolarAPP+ Tutorials
SolarAPP+ FAQs
The Benefits of Going Solar
Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies in Minnesota, creates local jobs, saves money on energy costs, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system.
Solar Maps and Potential
Investigate your property’s solar potential with these helpful websites: U of M; or Project Sunroof. You can also estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.
Finding a Contractor and Going Solar
Find a solar contractor to assess your home for solar energy and provide a quote. It is highly recommended that you get quotes from at least two installers.
- Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers.
- Consumer Solar Checklist – a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Solar Owner’s Manual – information for current solar homeowners to ensure they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors.
Financing, Incentives, and Tax Exemptions
Typically, solar installations are paid for through loans, upfront payments, or a power purchase agreement (PPA).
- A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing is a resource from the Clean Energy States Alliance that provides an overview of the different financing options.
Federal Incentives
- A great place for residents to start identifying the federal incentives for which they are eligible is this calculator from Rewiring America. The rebates and incentives available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act can vary depending on your location and income.
- Additional details about benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found on the EPA’s website or the Department of Energy website.
- The Federal Investment Tax Credit for residential solar continues to be one of the most significant ways to reduce the cost of your solar PV system. Learn more about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions & answers in the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- The World Resources Institute has created an IRA Bonus Mapper tool to help identify communities that are eligible for the low-income and energy community bonus credits.
- Tax-exempt organizations, including non-profit organizations, schools, and government entities, can now take advantage of the federal tax credit through “elective pay” (sometimes referred to as “direct pay.”) An overview of elective pay and Frequently Asked Questions are available from the IRS.
State and Local Incentives
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) – provides state-specific information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States.
- State incentives can be found in this database maintained by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center.
Consumer Protections, Solar Rights, and Procedures
In Minnesota, homeowners have the right to install solar panels on their detached, single-family homes, and homeowner associations (HOAs) cannot prohibit this, but they can regulate installation and appearance. Additionally, companies installing solar panels must be licensed as residential building contractors, and all electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor. Read MN State Statute 500.215.
Find other useful resources on solar rights, consumer protection, and procedures:
- Consumer Solar Checklist– a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Solar United Neighbors’ Solar Owner’s Manual - serves as a support for solar homeowners, whether you’ve just gone solar or you’ve had solar for years.
- Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) – provides state-specific information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States.
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes – includes details on how communities can encourage solar development through community association policies and processes.
More Helpful Solar Information
- Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
Funding Resources
Resources to find, apply for, and comply with grants, plus financing options.
Rebates & Incentives
Loans and Financing
Grant & Funding Trackers
Local Funding Opportunities
Elective Pay
- Elective Pay Sprint Hub (L4GG) - support to navigate elective (direct) pay
- Clean Energy Tax Navigator: discover if your project qualifies for elective pay
Financial Modeling Tools
- JUSTIFI (NLR) Free, open-source tool to calculate multiple benefits of your clean energy project.
- System Advisor Model (SAM) Free desktop application for techno-economic analysis of energy technologies. It is used by project managers and engineers, policy analysts, technology developers, and researchers to investigate questions about the technical, economic, and financial feasibility of power generation projects.
Heat Pumps - Procurement & Map of U.S. Manufacturing
ORG + PROJECT READINESS: START HERE (follow the 8-step process!)
Build Your Oragnization's Capacity
- Video: Maintaining Nonprofit Compliance (Nonprofit Utopia)
Tell Your Organization's Story
- Digi-Comms Strategy Template (The Solutions Project)
- Operating in a Changing World (parts 1 & 2)
PUBLIC FUNDING STEPS
STEP 1: Start Here: What is a Federal Grant?
- What to Expect When You're Managing a Grant (EPA webinar)
STEP 2: Before You Apply
STEP 3: Get Registered & Get to Know Uniform Grant Guidance
- New Uniform Grant Guidance (updates as of October 2024)
STEP 4: Scope Your Project
- Identify and Strengthen Partnerships
- Project Narrative (example)
- Cooperative Agreement Template (example)
STEP 5: Find Federal/State Grants
STEP 6: Assess: Is This Grant Right For You?
STEP 7: Apply For the Grant (see resources below)
Grants.gov Resources
Other Resources
- Grant Writers Guide (for federal grants)
STEP 8: Negotiate & Manage Award, Implement Project, and Closeout
- New Prospective Awardee Guide (published by NSP and offers insights on how to prepare to manage an award)
- Video: Financial Management Best Practices (Environmental Protection Network, Groundworks USA, L4GG, NRDC)
Video: Federal Grant Management & Compliance Training for Nonprofits partnering w/ local govts (Chicago BACP)
Equitable Evaluation
By Community or Tribal Nation
Resources for Tribal Nations, and rural and environmental justice communities.
This section is currently under development (update: 5/26/2025)
Townships
Cities
Counties
Regional
State
Networks to Join
More Resources
MN Rural Maps, Data, and Service Providers by County
- Blandin Foundation - Rural Pulse (data by region)
Funding
- Rural Partners Network (Rural.gov) - list of funding and technical assistance
- For a detailed list of State of MN and Federal Funding, see our Funding page and our More Grant Portals page
Resources
- MN Rural Counties (association)
11 MN Tribal Nations
- MPCA Tribal Contact List (2025)
Groups, Associations and Organizations
Partnerships & Engagement
Federal Funding
(view our Climate & Clean Energy Grants Tracker for a detailed list of federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities)
State Funding
Request Technical Assistance
Resources
Materials to Continue Our Learning Journey
- List of Resources to Continue Your Learning (We Are Still Here Minnesota)
- Tribal Sovereignty + History in Minnesota (Univ. of MN Tribal Sovereignty Institute)
- History (Minnesota Historical Society)
- Native Knowledge 360, Resources, Research and Guides (National Museum of the American Indian)
Racial Justice & Racial Equity Tools
- Racial Equity Tools (4100+ resources)
Community EJ Data + Resource Libraries
- Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) - research tools to help planners, developers, and community leaders
Authentic Community Engagement + Planning
Partners Advancing Climate Equity (PACE)
- Community Needs Assessment Toolkit (contains a robust set of prompts and resources to guide the development of actionable, community-driven plans)