2024 annual meeting

ICYMI: Click below to watch the full video with audio of this year’s CEF Annual Meeting

meet our new board members

Meet Rizwan Bankwala

Hear about Rizwan’s journey below:

“I worked on this board from 2022--2024. In that time, we have grown significantly and created a multistate name for ourselves, due in large part to the creative work of CEF staff, leadership, and the community itself. I look forward to leveraging the successful experiments CEF has begun for 2024 onward. I have run into several cases where my financial, strategy, and corporate development work experience has enabled leaders at CEF to fully consider different angles of major financial and growth opportunities.”

Meet Lisa Callahan

Hear about Lisa’s journey below:

“Passion for Clean Energy: As someone deeply committed to sustainable practices, I am passionate about clean energy and its potential to transform our communities. Clean energy not only mitigates environmental impact but also fosters economic growth and social equity. I am dedicated to solving climate change through hard work and innovative environmental strategies. I embrace every opportunity to shape a future that fosters beneficial relationships for all stakeholders involved. My interest in clean energy issues stems from a desire to actively contribute to this transition and advocate for policies that promote renewable energy adoption.

Skills and Experience: Drawing from my background in project management and sustainable finance, I bring a unique set of skills to the board. Here are some key areas where I can make a difference:

• Sustainability Intelligence: I excel at developing and leading programs that drive sustainable practices across various sectors. Whether it’s implementing energy-efficient technologies or promoting circular economy initiatives, I understand the intricacies of sustainable solutions.

• ESG Reporting: I have expertise in creating detailed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports. These reports highlight sustainable achievements and outline future goals, providing transparency and accountability.

• Supply Chain Procurement: Sourcing eco-friendly and sustainable materials is crucial for clean energy projects. My experience in procurement, especially within the recycling sector, ensures that we make environmentally conscious choices.

• Data Analysis: Strong analytical skills allow me to assess and optimize sustainability metrics. By analyzing data, we can fine-tune our strategies and measure our impact effectively.

• Strategic Methodologies: I believe in using strategic planning to enhance environmental initiatives. Whether it’s developing community solar projects or advocating for policy changes, a well-thought-out approach is essential.

• Financial Analysis: Constructing and managing financial models that support environmental projects is another area where I can contribute. Understanding the financial implications of clean energy investments ensures their long-term viability.

Motivation for Running: I want to serve as a community solar board member because I believe in the power of collective action. Community solar projects empower residents, reduce energy costs, and create jobs. By joining the board, I can actively contribute to shaping policies, fostering partnerships, and ensuring equitable access to clean energy. Together, we can accelerate the transition toward a greener, more sustainable future.”

Meet Mitchell Rogalsky

Here about Mitchell’s journey below:

“I first became hooked on solar in college, helping build a full sized, solar-powered electric car to race across the Australian Outback on nothing but the sun. I figured that if we could travel 2000 miles on nothing but a tiny battery and 20 feet of solar cells then I could do better with my own energy consumption. I've now fully electrified my home life, from solar on the roof to geothermal beneath our feet and electric cars in between. We've even fully converted our yard into a bee lawn, much to our neighbors' curiosity! Professionally, as an Electrical Engineer, I cut my teeth on utility-scale solar with CEF back in 2018, helping build the Faribault, Clarks Grove, and Ramp A gardens. Since then I've worked on many more solar projects across the country as well as wind farms. Today, I've refocused my efforts towards the grid, working as a Transmission Project Manager with Great River Energy. I see transmission and utility interconnections as the number one challenge to renewables over the next decade. I hope to lend my extensive design, construction and project management experience in the solar industry to CEF as we navigate the ever changing landscape of permitting, supply chain, and interconnections.”

Meet Toya Lopez

Here about Toya’s journey below:

“My interest in clean energy issues is rooted in health. I started my career as a sustainability professional, specifically to decrease the carbon footprint of the healthcare industry. Over time I learned more about all of the easy win energy efficiency, electrification, and transition to renewable energy brings. However, I became much more interested in clean energy issues during my work with food insecurity and housing insecurity. Many folks in Minnesota have to choose between food and bills, which is, of course, detrimental to health. With the latest findings on gas stoves and heating in homes, many renters and low-income residents do not have much of a choice but to use their old appliances and harm their health. Fossil Fuels also directly impact health by increasing heat illness risk, air quality issues, dangerous working conditions, and pollution. For all these reasons, I care about clean energy issues. I have been a part of many boards; namely Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate and Elliot Park Neighborhood Institute. I am also part of the City of Minneapolis Environmental Advisory Committee. I want to run as a Cooperative Energy Futures Board Member because I love CEF. As a previous employee, I have intimate knowledge of how the process looks like, member-facing and internal-facing. As an employee I wasn’t able to spend much time with member-owners engagement as I would have liked. While this board role will also be at a limited capacity, I do want to dedicate most of my time to empowering my fellow CEF member-owners.”

Meet David Bergstrom

Hear about David’s journey below:

“I'm an advocate for clean energy and the societal aspect of CEF's mission. I also believe we all are responsible for taking responsibility for our impact to our environment and want to be a positive force in reducing our carbon footprint. I spent my professional career building, operating, modifying and tracking and reducing energy use in the built environment. This experience spanned institutional, corporate and commercial (office, retail, industrial) buildings and energy systems. I've been instrumental in installing arrays of 10kW to 200kW on buildings I managed. I understand the factors impacting installation of solar systems whether ground or building mounted. My professional background also provides an understanding of the financial hurdles faced when installing a new solar array or arrays.”

Meet Mary Jo Wiatrak

Here about Mary Jo’s journey:

“I have been a member of CEF since 2013 and I am ready to take a more active role in the organization. CEF is a strong organization and I believe I would be a good addition to the Board in several ways. I am a longtime advocate for renewable energy and sustainability- both in my community and at the legislature. My philosophy about energy involves a framework of justice… this is important as this way of seeing allows us to go beyond the technological challenges and consider the political opportunities as well. In this way I believe it is crucial that we increase public participation in all issues of energy production and policy. This year I have been able to spend time with CEF staff from several divisions. I met with our Policy and Finance Director Pouya to shadow him at the State Capitol as he attended subcommittee hearings and discussed bills. I met with Dana to discuss the CEF Affordable Solar Program. And I met with the Outreach and Engagement Team, Kyle, Allye, Bryn, and Sebastian to discuss membership and the annual meeting. What a great group of people. Additionally, I am an attorney. My legal background and communication skills would benefit the board, especially when reviewing legal documents and statutes. I am also an advocate for democratic organizations. Cooperatives are in principle more community-centered and more economically just. Our Cooperative Energy Futures community of nearly 2,000 members is a great example of the power of cooperative principles to reshape how we think about our shared energy future.”

Meet Brett Thompson

Hear about Brett’s journey below:

“I have been interested in energy use and conservation my whole life. Two energy stories from my childhood that stick out are as follows. First, at my grandpa's house, he would charge a nickel to anyone who left a light on in an empty room. I disagree with his punitive model of habit forming, but agree that conversation is good for both financial and environmental purposes. Second I was fascinated by everything about a field trip our 4th grade class took to tour one of the hydroelectric power plants on the Great Falls of the Missouri River. As an adult, I began my professional life in the automotive industry, but turned to wind energy, then to education. Seeing the interactions of global systems of modern life, of transportation, communication, economics, politics, and society, has made me realize how much impact an individual human has on the whole globe. We are all interconnected, so we all need to be responsible to the extent we have the capacity to lessen our impact. The balance to this is we must live our lives in the society that exists, even as we work to make it more just for all. We must make our energy footprint less impactful so that future generations can enjoy a healthy planet that is comfortably habitable for humans. I want to create a world where my kids and grandkids, and everyone around the globe is better off than my generation. Cooperative Energy Futures is an organization that shares this vision with me. I am finishing my first term as a board member with CEF, and I'm running for a second term because CEF demonstrates an approach to climate justice and energy use and production that is thoughtful, visionary, and inclusive of all. I like that.”

Annual Meeting and Annual Report

Board nominations

2023 CEF Annual Members Meeting

The 2023 CEF Annual Members Meeting was held as a series of local meetings and one online meeting during May 2023. You can view the recording of the online Annual Meeting.

2022 BOARD ELECTION RESULTS

Cooperative Energy Futures received 3 candidate nominations for 3 open seats during the annual Board nominations period. A Board election was held online throughout the month of May in which 88 CEF members voted and Directors Holly Buchanan, Keith Dent, and Sachi Graber were re-elected to the Board. Board nominations, including candidate statements and introductory videos are posted below for review by members.

Thanks to everyone who ran and to all the members who voted!

Past annual reports and meetings

For information on past Annual Reports and Annual Meetings, visit:

• The 2021 Annual Report and 2022 Annual Members Meeting

• The 2020 Annual Report and 2021 Annual Members Meeting

• The 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Annual Members Meeting