Cooperative Energy Futures

11/06/2026

Interconnection reform is key to ensuring customers don’t miss the last deadline for federal . But fixing isn't just a short-term fix for a tax credit deadline—it's an investment in a cleaner, more resilient energy future for our communities. States with strong rules that enable the rapid adoption of and other distributed energy resources like energy storage see more local jobs, more energy choice, and a more reliable grid. 🌱 http://gridunlocked.org

11/04/2026

Minneapolis neighbors: There's still time to make your voice heard on the City's 2027 budget.

The Mayor's proposed budget includes significant cuts to climate and energy programs, including a roughly 32% reduction in funding for home energy improvements. If approved, these cuts could mean 300 fewer homes receiving weatherization and electrification improvements in 2027.

That means fewer opportunities for residents, particularly those in low-income communities, to access improvements that make their homes healthier, more comfortable, and more affordable to heat and cool.

Join the City Council's community listening session and share why weatherization, home energy improvements, and accessible energy programs deserve continued investment.

📅 Thursday, November 5 (TOMORROW)
🕠 Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
🕕 Listening session: 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Whittier Elementary School Cafeteria, 315 W. 26th Street

If you want to speak, arrive early to sign up. Space is limited.

More information: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/2026/october/2027budgetlisteningsessions/

11/03/2026

It's as simple as that. See you at the polls!

10/23/2026

One year of sunshine, community power, and clean energy in Lake Elmo!

CollectiveSun is looking back at the first year of CEF’s Lake Elmo solar project, highlighting what community solar can make possible when clean energy is built to benefit people and communities.

At Cooperative Energy Futures, we believe everyone deserves a chance to participate in the clean energy transition. Projects like Lake Elmo help bring that vision to life.

Read the one-year retrospective from Collective Sun:

We catch up with Cooperative Energy Futures to hear about how the Lake Elmo community solar garden has worked out for their members.

10/07/2026

Your home could be doing more for you.

From rooftop solar to insulation, air sealing and more efficient heating and cooling, there are more ways than ever to make your home more comfortable, energy efficient and affordable.

CEF is here to help you figure out where to start.

Ready to explore what's possible? Learn more about our Sustainable Homes and Affordable Solar programs.

www.cef.coop

09/24/2026

what do you think the big picture is?

09/23/2026

Sheep + solar = a pretty adorable example of agrivoltaics!

Our sheep friends are grazing around the Mankato Community Solar Garden, helping naturally manage vegetation while the solar panels produce clean energy.

Agrivoltaics lets the same land support both renewable energy and agriculture, making better use of the space while creating benefits for the soil, plants, and animals.

We’re just here for the cute sheep. 🐑

09/09/2026

What an amazing time at The Great Minnesota Get Together! This was our second year setting up shop in the Eco Center, and we're just so incredibly grateful for everyone who stopped by to chat. It was fantastic sharing what our Cooperative is all about and how we're working together to build community knowledge and wealth. Thanks for the wonderful memories and conversations!

09/02/2026

What if your home could be more comfortable, use less energy, and help lower your energy bills?

CEF’s Sustainable Homes Program helps homeowners understand how their home is using energy and identify opportunities to make it more efficient—from insulation and air sealing to heating, cooling, and other energy-saving improvements.

- Use less energy
- Potentially lower your energy bills
- Improve comfort at home

The first step is a Home Energy Assessment, where we can take a closer look at your home and help identify opportunities for improvement.

Ready to get started? Schedule your Home Health Assessment through our website or reach out to us at [email protected].

Your home should work for you—not against you. 💚

08/24/2026

What if the things we rely on every day were owned by the people who use them?

That’s the idea behind a cooperative.

Instead of being built primarily to generate profits for outside investors, cooperatives are owned and democratically controlled by their members. That means the people who use the cooperative have a voice in how it operates and where its value goes.

And Minnesota has a seriously strong cooperative history.

Fun fact: By 1922, more than 4,500 local cooperatives had been organized across Minnesota, from cooperative creameries and farm organizations to stores, telephone companies and insurance cooperatives.

Today, cooperatives are still helping Minnesotans build a different kind of economy, one rooted in shared ownership, democratic decision-making and mutual benefit.

That’s why CEF is a cooperative.

We believe energy shouldn't just be something we buy.

It can be something we own.