+ What do we mean by energy democracy?

Energy Democracy: creating a just and sustainable future for all

• ACCESS to reliable and affordable clean energy
• SHARE ownership, access to the jobs and wealth generated by local energy systems, and decision making power over local energy systems
• WORK with our energy system partners and local governments to fight climate change and protect the health of humans and all living things.
• UPLIFT communities most impacted by pollution, economic injustice, and climate change.

+ What is Clean Energy?

Clean Energy means Protecting Our Health, Reducing Our Energy Costs, and Safeguarding the Environment. CEF creates access to clean energy by:

• Creating Solutions that work for renters and those with a difficult site for clean energy through community-wide projects.
• Using Models for clean energy that require no upfront investment and save our members money monty-by-month.
• Ensuring Access for all our projects to be available to everyone regardless of credit score or income.
• Prioritizing Member Engagement for low-income communities, communities of color, renters, and recent immigrant communities that have historically had the least access to clean energy.

Minnesotans can join us in a clean energy solution when they pay an electric bill to Xcel Energy and also live in most counties state-wide. We are currently working on partnership for residents not served by Xcel Energy.

+ How do we keep clean energy rooted in community?

Local communities set the rules for how energy works in their community. This looks like:

Based in local Communities

• Relationship based energy projects with local land owners, governments, and neighborhood groups founded on member interest.
• Using already developed-spaces, like commercial rooftops and parking lots whenever possible. In rural areas, we make sure our projects foster thriving local ecosystems through prairie restoration and creating pollinator habitat.
• Partnering with local Minnesota clean energy contractors who commit to workforce diversity while helping grow local solar enterprises.

Developed by community members

• Working in partnership with community-based organizations and local leaders using clean energy outreach to build stronger relationships with new members.
• By inviting members to invest in these projects which keeps more of their finances in the community.

Designed to serve

• Designing our own contracts for members, allowing them to move or transfer their clean energy benefits to have maximum flexibility. This practice stands apart from outside investors.
• Managing our own projects and project management software to ensure our connection to members needs and protection for their data. e answer you want to hide until a click goes here!

+ What does it mean to be a member-owned business focused on justice?

General Co-op Practices: Collective investment for collective gain:

• Anyone can become a member of the co-op
• One Member = One Vote: The Board of Directors is elected democratically by the members.
• Any member can run for the Board of Directors which sets co-op priorities.
• Profits are distributed to the members based on their share of co-op activities.
• CEF operates based on the cooperative values and principles.

Justice Driven Practices: To build community wealth in a way that addresses historic injustices:

• Membership is accessible with a one-time $25 membership share
• Focuses on fighting the highest energy cost burdens, which usually impact households with lower incomes.
• Builds shared clean energy assets that allow for sharing profit and building member equity for members who may not have pre-existing property or wealth.
• Clean energy projects stay member owned which allow most of the clean energy wealth to flow back into the community.
• Strive to create a BIPOC local business development and solar industry workforce to address long standing racial inequities.
• Grow community resilience by fighting climate change using strategies that help members prepare their communities for a thriving future.