Cooperative Energy Futures blog

CEF Receives 3 New Grants

Rebecca Reed — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:53:13 GMT

We're thrilled to announce that Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) has been awarded three prestigious prizes/grants from the U.S. Department of Energy

...marking a significant milestone in our journey to advance renewable energy nationwide and ensure equitable access to solar power for all communities.

Buildings Upgrade Prize ("Buildings UP"): This funding will support CEF's energy efficiency program, spearheaded by Audrey Pallmeyer, aimed at enhancing the energy performance of residential and commercial buildings through upgrades and retrofits.

Round 2 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize: We're proud to continue our efforts in developing community solar projects and innovative models for equitable clean energy deployment with support from this grant.

Equitable Solar Communities of Practice Grant: This recognition acknowledges CEF as a leader in community-led economic development through solar, fostering collaboration to ensure underserved communities benefit from the transition to renewable power sources.

A More Comfortable, Efficient Home Starts Here

Rebecca Reed — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:52:35 GMT

Minnesota winters are cold, and our summers can be hot. Keeping a home comfortable year-round can take a lot of energy, especially in older or drafty homes with inefficient heating, cooling, and appliances. For many homeowners, that energy use can translate into high utility bills.

CEF’s Sustainable Homes Program is designed to help Minneapolis homeowners make their homes more efficient, comfortable, and affordable.

Understanding Your Home’s Energy Use

Every home is different, which is why Sustainable Homes starts with understanding how your home actually uses energy.

The program begins with a comprehensive Home Energy Assessment, a review of at least 12 months of your utility usage, and an assessment of your income information to determine what rebates and incentives you may qualify for.

From there, we identify potential improvements that can help reduce energy use, reduce reliance on gas, improve comfort, and lower energy costs.

Making Home Upgrades More Accessible

We know that even when homeowners want to make energy improvements, the upfront cost can be a major barrier.

Sustainable Homes is designed to help make those upgrades more accessible. CEF provides vetted contractors and, in most cases, covers most or all of the upfront costs. We also help process eligible rebates and incentives.

If you choose to move forward, you'll receive an upgrade offer that clearly outlines the expected savings, program costs, rebates, any required upfront contribution, and monthly service charge before you make a decision.

In many cases, the monthly service charge is designed to be less than the modeled energy savings, helping you save money while making improvements to your home.

Three Steps Toward a Better Home

1. Start with a Home Energy Assessment.
We'll take a closer look at your home and how it's using energy.

2. Explore your options.
We'll explain what we found and provide up to three potential upgrade options, followed by a one-on-one conversation so you can ask questions and decide what makes sense for your home. If you decide not to move forward, there is no cost for the assessment.

3. Make your home improvements.
If you choose an upgrade option, vetted contractors complete the work. CEF handles much of the process, including helping with eligible incentives and rebates.

What Could Sustainable Homes Do for You?

Depending on your home and your needs, upgrades may help you:

Reduce household gas use
Lower energy costs
Improve comfort
Make your home more energy efficient
Improve health and safety
Avoid emergency heating or cooling replacements
Increase your home's resale value
Make important improvements without taking out a traditional loan

The program is currently available to Minneapolis residents who own and occupy a single-family home and have lived there for at least 12 months. Participants must also be willing to provide historical and ongoing utility data.

Homeowners who live in Minneapolis Green Zones or who are at or below 80% of Area Median Income may qualify for the greatest incentives, but the program is open to eligible Minneapolis single-family homeowners regardless of income.

Your Home. Your Energy. Your Choice.

Making your home more efficient doesn't have to mean figuring everything out on your own or taking on a large upfront expense. Sustainable Homes is about giving homeowners the information, support, and options they need to make improvements that work for their household.

Ready to learn what your home could do better?

Start with a Home Energy Assessment and take the first step toward a more comfortable, efficient, and affordable home.

Clean Energy Without Putting Solar Panels on Your Roof

Rebecca Reed — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:52:04 GMT

What if you could support local solar energy, save money on your electricity bill, and be part of a community-owned clean energy project, all without putting solar panels on your roof?

That’s Community Solar.

CEF’s Community Solar program makes it possible for people to participate in local solar energy even if they rent their home, don’t have a suitable roof, or simply don’t want to install their own solar panels.

How Community Solar Works

Instead of putting panels on your home, you subscribe to a portion of a local solar garden. The solar garden produces clean electricity and sends that energy to the grid.

As a CEF member and Community Solar subscriber, you receive credits on your Xcel Energy electricity bill based on the energy your portion of the solar garden produces.

It’s a simple way to support renewable energy while potentially lowering your monthly energy costs.

Solar That Works for More People

Traditional rooftop solar can come with significant upfront costs and isn't an option for everyone. You might rent your home, have a roof that isn't suitable for solar, or simply not have thousands of dollars available for an installation.

Community Solar changes that.

CEF's Community Solar model is designed to make clean energy accessible to more people, including renters and households that may have traditionally been left out of the clean energy transition.

You don't need to own a home. You don't need a sunny roof. And you don't need to install panels yourself.

More Than a Monthly Bill Credit

When you join CEF, you're not just signing up for a solar program. You're becoming part of a member-owned cooperative.

CEF members have a voice in the cooperative through our one-member, one-vote structure. Our Community Solar projects are designed to create benefits that stay within the communities where we work.

That means your participation can help support local renewable energy, community ownership, and a more equitable energy system.

What You Can Expect

CEF Community Solar subscribers can typically expect savings of 10–20% on their electricity costs, depending on the project and individual circumstances.

Membership starts with a $25 one-time membership stock purchase, and we can work with you if the upfront cost is a barrier.

Once you're enrolled, your solar credits appear on your Xcel Energy bill. And if you move, your subscription can generally be transferred or canceled, giving you flexibility as your housing situation changes.

Clean Energy That We Can Own Together

We believe clean energy shouldn't only be something people buy. It should be something communities can own, benefit from, and have a say in.

Community Solar gives more people a way to participate in the clean energy transition while helping build a future where energy is more affordable, accessible, and community-controlled.

Ready to become part of Community Solar?

Please join the waitlist for one of our community solar gardens and find out how you can become a CEF member and start saving.

Big Things Happening at CEF!

Rebecca Reed — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:51:17 GMT

Equitable Solar Communities of Practice

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) facilitated a six-month community of practice focused on equitable solar solutions and community-driven economic development. We are especially grateful to our six core partners: Black Owners of Solar Services, Energy Allies, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Shake Energy Collaborative, Solar Stewards, and Working Power. This collaboration culminated in a report offering best practices and recommendations for more equitable community solar programs, highlighting CEF’s success in empowering communities to build wealth through clean energy access.

Planning ahead for 2027 sustainable growth with new renewable programs

Rebecca Reed — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:45:07 GMT

Building What Comes Next: CEF’s Vision for 2027

At Cooperative Energy Futures, we’re always thinking about what comes next. As we look toward 2027, we’re focused on growing in ways that make clean energy more accessible, affordable, and community-centered.

That means developing new renewable energy programs that can meet people where they are, while continuing to strengthen the programs our members already rely on.

From Community Solar and Sustainable Homes to neighborhood-scale heating and cooling solutions, we’re exploring new ways to help communities use less energy, lower their bills, and have a greater say in how their energy is produced and managed.

Growth for us isn’t just about building more projects. It’s about building community wealth, energy independence, and long-term benefits for the people and neighborhoods we serve.

As we plan for 2027, we’re excited to keep working alongside our members, partners, and communities to build an energy future that works for everyone.

The future of clean energy is community-owned. And we’re building it together.