Timothy DenHerder-Thomas: Title: Empowering Communities Through Clean Energy 

Energy is fundamental to human well-being: we use it in our homes for things like heating, cooling, and lighting. Many of us do not think about it, as electricity to middle class homes is reliable and turning a switch or plugging in an appliance is part of our everyday lives and not something we question.

On April 21st, we had the opportunity to talk with Timothy over Zoom and learn about his journey and the incredible work he has done to help improve and transform the energy sector. In talking to him it was inspiring to see how passionate he is about these topics.

Timothy began by explaining to us the issues with the Minnesota energy sector. Approximately 73% of energy supply in the state is generated by fossil fuels and, therefore, the use of electricity comes with an environmental cost. Clean energy alternatives such as wind, solar, biomass and hydro power provide approximately 29% of Minnesota’s total electricity generation, a small fraction of our energy consumption. For some Minnesotans the cost of energy use is more than just the environmental damage. For these households, energy is expensive and they are encumbered by energy burdens which take up a large percentage of their annual income. In Minnesota the average energy burden per household is 2% which means that, on average, a household spends 2% of annual income on energy bills. However, for those in the bottom 30% of the area median income, the energy burden can be over 7%. Nearly one in three counties in Minnesota has an average energy burden of 5% or higher.

In addition, the humid summers and cold winters of Minnesota exacerbate this economic burden. Disadvantaged residents across the state struggle to pay their utility bills every month and end up sacrificing the purchase of other necessities like food and medicine. They can suffer from the “heat or eat” syndrome, where they must choose to spend money on food or heating their homes. Yet, Timothy has found a way to provide low-income and underserved communities with both cheap and clean (renewable) energy through the use of cooperatives.

When we asked about how he found his way into the energy field, Timothy explained that he became interested in climate justice at a young age and, when he was in high school, began to think about how people were affected by the climate. He was most interested in energy use from an economic standpoint and wondered how we can make energy beneficial for everyone. Timothy attended Macalester College, where he majored in environmental studies, with a double minor in geography and biology. From his experiences studying at Macalester he began to think more about how dominant stories often shape our view of society, but are not experienced by everyone. “He emphasized the notion that work towards environmental relief can further sustainability, be profitable, and promote justice.” He emphasized the notion that work towards environmental relief can further sustainability, be profitable, and promote justice. He shared he was most inspired by Chris Wells, an Environmental Studies professor at Macalester who also served as an advisor and mentor for Timothy during his four years of college.

During his time at Macalester College, he engaged in many green projects such as CERF (Clean Energy Revolving Fund), a money pool program he started with Macalester Board of Trustees, as well as a $70,000 project to change 19,000 of Maclaester’s fluorescent light bulbs to energy efficient ones. He also created a program called “Summer of Solutions”, where he invited students from all over the country to a two-month leadership training in social development.

At the end of college, in 2009, Timothy partnered with some college classmates to form the company called Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF). CEF is focused on reducing energy use and producing clean, renewable energy for low-income and underserved residents as well as the general public. Today Timothy is the manager of CEF and has accomplished many important goals throughout his career as an advocate for clean energy. Timothy and CEF have made remarkable progress in making clean energy affordable for the disadvantaged. He has helped raise awareness and educate people across Minnesota about the numerous advantages of clean energy. This involves collaborating with non-profit organizations such as Community Power which aims to bring more members into the clean energy community. CEF has helped develop eight community-run solar gardens in Minnesota. These solar gardens are energy installations owned and operated by communities, allowing more energy sovereignty and understanding of energy processes. Local utility companies purchase the power generated by the solar panels and, in return, community members receive benefits in the form of energy bill rebates. CEF has already obtained over 16 million dollars in funding for these solar gardens and is now in the process of building seven more. The company continues to expand and currently has nine employees and more than 1,000 members. CEF, with the guidance and knowledge of Timothy, is helping to create a just energy democracy and a system that benefits local economies while encouraging public participation. Not only has Timothy created change within Minnesota, but he has also impacted the clean energy movement on a national scale through his work with People’s Energy fund.

We asked Timothy about the barriers he faces when doing this work and he listed a number of obstacles. He highlighted that the financial system is structured to benefit big investors and Wall Street financiers. Most incentives for the alternative energy industry that currently exists serve the interests of large institutions and powerful corporations. This leaves individual households and entire communities with limited opportunities to access and produce alternative energy, such as solar. He argued that because the system is legally set up in this way, when discussions and decisions about energy solutions are being made, marginalized communities are not often at the table“When discussions and decisions about energy solutions are being made, marginalized communities are not often at the table.”. Another major challenge is that many residents across Minnesota are unaware of the affordability, reliability, and long-term benefits of solar, which makes it difficult to gain their support for these projects. For this reason, Timothy focuses on education to encourage support in solar energy systems and projects.

When we asked which projects he is especially excited about, Timothy shared that it was providing rooftop solar panels for renters. Renters are often not aware that they have the ability to switch to solar, but Cooperative Energy Future helps them through the entire process. Timothy shared that some of the best parts of his job is talking with the people he’s helping and educating them about how energy works. He also enjoys seeing new types of relationships to energy unfold while working on the most frustrating and challenging parts of his operation.

Like many environmental activists, Timothy encounters personal struggles but he emphasizes a mindset that supports action instead of burnout. He expressed that it’s exciting to be involved in a project that is much bigger than yourself, but it’s also important to find peace with not being able to control everything around you. Instead, he suggests that we all need to be more focused on our relationship with the world and each other. People are being hurt by our effects on the climate and we need to care about those most affected.

In his final remarks, Timothy shared some wisdom for the next generation of students interested in community engagement in sustainability. Like his work at CEF, he advises those interested to connect low-income neighborhoods to green energy initiatives and to search for communities that are already working or looking into these issues. While he acknowledges that the lack of financing is a huge barrier for getting projects off the ground, he believes that green energy education and outreach is a top priority.

Sources:

Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) – Minneapolis, Minnesota. (2022, July 8). Business View Magazine. https://businessviewmagazine.com/cooperative-energy-futures-cef-minneapolis-minnesota/

Editor, M. (2016, July 22). Mosaic helps bring solar to South Minneapolis. Medium. https://medium.com/@joinmosaic/mosaic-helps-bring-solar-to-south-minneapolis-b374009ff14b

Energy Futures: Conversations on Where We’re Headed on Apple Podcasts. (n.d.). Apple Podcasts. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-futures-conversations-on-where-were-headed/id1534783245

Our Team. (n.d.). COOPERATIVE ENERGY FUTURES. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cooperativeenergyfutures.com/our-team&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1683238826978480&usg=AOvVaw2yWRFmV5Dn_6nrKah5ALmn

People’s Solar Energy Fund. (n.d.). People’s Solar Energy Fund. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.psef.network/#:~:text=The%20People%27s%20Solar%20Energy%20Fund%20is%20where%20BIPOC%20and%20low

Tribune, K. T. S. (n.d.). Meet one of “young green heroes.” Star Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.startribune.com/macalester-senior-one-of-six-young-green-heroes/33509454/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1683239104885115&usg=AOvVaw2g9axsFgjS72jJUxyUE__

U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – Independent Statistics and Analysis. (n.d.). Www.eia.gov. https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=MN#:~:text=electricity%20in%202021.-