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 month-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.

• Allowing Minnesotans to 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 a partnership for residents not served by Xcel Energy.

Local communities set the rules for how energy works in their community. Our work is:

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

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.