July 2026

July 2026

Inside the Newsletter:

Chiller Project | 2026 Symposium | IMPACT | Materials Exchange | Events | Funding Opportunities

A large industrial room containing metal tanks and pipes which are painted blue or green. One blue metal tank in the foreground has the words “Chiller 1” on it in shiny, silver letters.

MnTAP Begins Chiller Project

In July, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is kicking off a project to reduce energy use in chiller systems.

About Chillers

Chiller systems use the refrigeration cycle to provide cooling to a variety of systems. In industrial spaces, chillers can provide cooling for equipment that is meant to be cold, like coolers, freezers, and water baths. These applications are common in food processors, dairies, and breweries. Chillers can also be found in high-temperature environments, like foundries, where they are used to keep equipment like industrial ovens and furnaces from overheating. Other sectors where chillers are frequently utilized include grocery stores, healthcare, and ice arenas.

Common opportunities for improvement include reducing the cooling load, fine-tuning the compressor controls, and installing variable frequency drives (VFDs) on fans. Cooling loads can sometimes be reduced by right-sizing systems instead of oversizing them or changing set points to be closer to room temperature. If the cooling load is constant throughout the year, some chillers may be able to reduce energy usage by changing the compressor controls so the unit “floats” head pressure in response to changing outdoor conditions. Both temperature and humidity impact the effectiveness of cooling. Programming a dynamic system that compresses the refrigerant to the minimum required by the current weather instead of the minimum needed on the worst weather day of the year will reduce energy usage. If floating head pressure is not possible, installing VFDs on cooling tower fans will provide a different pathway for reducing energy use based on actual weather conditions.

About the Project

Through this project, MnTAP will provide no-cost onsite energy efficiency assessments for businesses with chiller systems. The assessment process begins with a site visit where MnTAP’s engineers will observe the chiller system and the processes the chiller supports. The site visit typically takes 2 to 3 hours. Next, MnTAP will research efficiency opportunities that apply to the business’s specific system. After identifying areas of opportunity, MnTAP will compile a report outlining each efficiency recommendation. The report typically includes the estimated energy use reduction and anticipated cost savings. When possible, MnTAP will also provide an estimated cost of implementation and payback period. This includes outlining applicable rebates and grant funding. After sending the final report, MnTAP schedules a virtual call to discuss the findings, answer any questions, and discuss follow-up options. Facilities with substantial energy efficiency opportunity can apply to MnTAP’s intern program for full-time, dedicated support over the course of a summer.

As an added benefit, MnTAP has partnered with the Energy Resources Center (ERC) out of the University of Illinois Chicago to provide an analysis of onsite energy generation and decarbonization opportunities for interested businesses. ERC specializes in industrial decarbonization through onsite energy especially through unconventional fuel sources like biogas, off gases, and waste heat recovery and utilization. They can also investigate the suitability of technologies like combined heat and power, solar photovoltaic, wind, electric and thermal batteries, industrial heat pumps, and fuel cells. ERC will provide direct technical assistance to industrial facilities and other interested businesses to help identify, model, and implement onsite energy solutions for achieving decarbonization while identifying potential funding opportunities to offset implementation costs.

Throughout the project, MnTAP and ERC will compile technical resources based on the results of the project including case studies, a webpage, and a webinar.

For additional information, contact Gabrielle Martin at gamartin@umn.edu.

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund logo featuring a loon with a chick under a star, with the organization name displayed below.Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.

Currently, 40% of net Minnesota State Lottery proceeds are dedicated to growing the Trust Fund and ensuring future benefits for Minnesota’s environment and natural resources.

Contact

Gabrielle Martin – Engineer
gamartin@umn.edu
612-625-4027

You’re Invited to the 2026 Intern Symposium!

Audience seated in a conference room watching a MnTAP intern symposium presentation, with a speaker at the front and a slide displayed.Wednesday, August 19, 2026 
12:00 – 5:00PM CDT
McNamara Alumni Center or Livestream

The MnTAP Team invites you to attend the 2026 MnTAP Intern Symposium on August 19th! Celebrate the accomplishments of the 2026 MnTAP intern cohort as they present the results of their summer projects focused on pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and water conservation. The event is free and open to the public, and you’re welcome to attend all or part of the symposium.

Register

Check out the links to the project abstracts on the Symposium Agenda or below and plan the talks you want to attend.

Session 1:

Session 2:

Session 3:

Session 4:

The 2026 Symposium will be in-person at the McNamara Alumni Center and virtual. Check out the Symposium Agenda Page for details.

MnTAP Releases 2025 Impact Report

Infographic in the shape of the state of Minnesota highlighting annual environmental and economic impacts. The graphic reports 1.44 million pounds of waste reduced, including 1,150 pounds of air emissions, 2,800 pounds of hazardous waste, and 1.43 million pounds of non-hazardous waste, accompanied by a small landfill icon. It also shows 24.2 million gallons of water saved with a blue faucet icon, 2.34 million kWh of electricity and 204,000 therms of gas saved with a yellow electrical plug icon, and $945,000 in first-year savings with a green money bag icon. Each section is separated by dotted horizontal lines within the outline of Minnesota.In 2025, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) demonstrated its trademark resiliency and excellence as it navigated a shifting landscape for grant-based programs. The organization shone both internally and externally as MnTAP and its partners focused on executing the mission and positioning the program to continue thriving into 2026 and beyond. This year’s results, captured in the 2025 Impact Report, reflect the hard work of MnTAP staff and the skilled dedication of our many partners that make the work possible.

2025 Highlights:

  • 43 million pounds of waste eliminated and diverted
  • 2 million gallons of water conserved
  • 34 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity conserved
  • 203,600 therms of fuel reduced
  • $945,100 in annual cost savings realized

In 2025, MnTAP provided technical assistance to 319 organizations, including 49 in areas identified as having environmental justice concerns. Our team also conducted 129 site visits across 76 unique facilities, fielded 131 direct requests for assistance, and supported 17 student intern projects. While this work broadly focused on our main topics of water conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention, our data showed that energy efficiency was the top reason our clients reached out to us.

MnTAP’s work in 2025 also included targeted efforts to reduce pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous air pollutants, while addressing climate impacts from food waste and promoting sustainable practices across sectors.

We remain committed to supporting Minnesota’s businesses and communities in meeting today’s environmental challenges through practical, cost-effective solutions. I hope you enjoy reading this year’s Impact Report and join me in thanking our team for all their great work in making the State of Minnesota a healthy, safe place to live.

2025 IMPACT

Contact

Kelsey Klucas – Director
  kluc0035@umn.edu 
612-624-4619

Minnesota Materials Exchange (MME) transitions platform to Rheaply

Square logo for the Minnesota Materials Exchange. A muted teal silhouette of the state of Minnesota is centered on a dark navy background with subtle wavy lines. Over the center of the state is a circular badge with the words “MINNESOTA MATERIALS EXCHANGE” surrounding a gold circular recycling symbol made of two arrows. The design is framed by a rounded navy border with a thin gold inner outline, using a muted palette of teal, navy, cream, and gold.We are excited to announce a reuse upgrade for your circular economy efforts! The Minnesota Materials Exchange is migrating from the iWasteNot platform to Rheaply, an advanced resource exchange network designed to make finding, sharing, and repurposing commercial items—like furniture, fixtures, and building materials—faster and easier. Starting July 1, MnTAP officially switched its reuse platform to Rheaply. Rheaply has a proven reuse track record in various markets, including Ohio and Michigan, and this transition will continue Minnesota Material Exchange’s long-held tradition of item exchanges, which dates back to 1990.

Rheaply offers several features that will enhance the user experience and make it easier for re-users to post items and receive items. These features include:

  • User-friendly detailed listing screen: AI-assisted descriptions and bulk-upload tools to get your surplus items online in seconds, with multiple fields, including dimension options, a pricing estimate guide, and multi-photo upload capabilities.
  • Search: Advanced filters to claim, sell, or donate goods efficiently.
  • Impact reporting: Automated reporting highlights how much waste and money are being saved. By circulating materials on the platform, users also displace the need to purchase new items, which actively avoids the greenhouse gas emissions (embodied carbon) associated with sourcing, processing, and manufacturing.
  • Unique storefront: Since MnTAP will operate the statewide marketplace at no cost to organizations, individual organizations can create their own account pages, or “storefronts,” where other users can browse all listings tied to the posting organization.
  • B2B byproduct exchange: Sell or recycle hard-to-reuse industrial byproducts, which also include food and agricultural items.
  • Bulk transfer and mass reuse project assistance: Facilitate the posting of hundreds of items on the platform at one time, with spreadsheet upload or manual entry.
  • Item-level asset tagging: Utilize custom tags and Asset tags to track and monitor high-value resources.
  • Verified non-profit (NGO) tagging: Connect idle assets directly with local nonprofits and municipal networks. Screen and tag registered 501(c)(3) organizations to automate tax-donation receipts and prioritize charitable giving.
  • Built-in messaging & hold requests: Enable direct communication between Minnesota organizations and external re-users.
  • Open-access wish list: Allows community groups to post “wanted” listings.

So, what do you need to do? Visit the Rheaply Minnesota Materials Exchange to set up your new profile, launch your storefront, and begin exploring active local listings. We have already reached out to our listserv with a message promoting the new platform, and we encourage you to create an account and start browsing the listings. You may also contact Jon Schroeder, the MME Coordinator, with any questions.

We hope you’ll help us promote this new platform and serve an ambassador to other potential users, including organizations across all regions of Minnesota. Please reach out to us with any ideas or suggestions for maximizing reuse in this great state. Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping valuable resources in use and out of Minnesota landfills and incinerators!

Contact

Jon Schroeder – Sustainable Materials Management Specialist
  jschro@umn.edu
612-624-4645

Events

Native Garden Maintenance Workshop
Metro Blooms and City of St. Louis Park

August 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (CT)

Location: Aquila Park, 3110 Xylon Ave S, St. Louis Park, MN
In-person, $15

Learn how to care for your native plantings and rain gardens! Join on August 13th from 6:00-7:30pm for an in-person Rain Garden Maintenance Workshop located at Aquila Park. This hands-on workshop led by Metro Blooms landcare experts will cover practices for keeping your native plantings thriving and your rain gardens functioning their best. Get guidance for identifying native plants, managing weeds, timing for rain garden maintenance activities throughout the year, assessing rain garden functionality and more. This workshop is hosted by the City of St. Louis Park. Learn more and register at this website.

Blue Thumb Fall Native Plant Sale
Metro Blooms with Blazing Star Gardens, Ecoscapes Native Nursery, MNL, and Northern Holler Nursery

September 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (CT)

Location: 3100 Lilac Dr. N, Golden Valley, MN
In-person, Free

It’s planting season — again! Fall is one of the best times to plant native perennials, and Blue Thumb is here to help you do it right.

Join the second annual Blue Thumb Fall Native Plant Sale to stock up on native flowers, grasses, and shrubs from native plant nurseries Ecoscapes, Blazing Star Gardens, MNL, and Northern Holler Nursery.

Whether you’re starting a new pollinator garden or expanding an existing one, you’ll find all the native plants you need in one place — plus guidance and resources from local environmental organizations! Learn more at this website.

Funding Opportunities

  • CSFS: Industrial innovation in food systems – implementation (MPCA): Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with the final deadline being 5:00 PM (CT) on April 1, 2028. The MPCA is soliciting proposals to distribute $40 million in grant funding to support industrial food and beverage manufacturers and food system organic waste processors across Minnesota. Funding is intended to execute capital expenditure (capex) projects at facilities that will improve operational efficiency, reduce operating costs, and lessen environmental impacts by reducing greenhouse emissions, criteria air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or waste. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly. Eligible applications received by 5 p.m. Central Time on the quarterly deadline (July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 of each year) will be reviewed and evaluated. This will continue until funds are fully encumbered, or April 1, 2028, whichever occurs first.
  • CSFS: Natural refrigerants in retail food refrigeration and cold storage (MPCA): Applications are awarded on a first-come, first served basis within each refrigeration sector with the final deadline being May 27, 2027. The MPCA is accepting applications for grants to reduce refrigerant emissions in retail food refrigeration, cold storage, and food assistance programs in Minnesota. Refrigeration projects must include replacing existing equipment to use a natural refrigerant such as, but not limited to, carbon dioxide (R-744), ammonia (R-717), and propane (R-290). Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses with up to 150 retail food refrigeration facilities company-wide; government entities, Tribes, non-profits, or non-profit education institution; non-profits; and for-profit businesses with 500 full-time employees or fewer with cold storage. The RFP will remain open, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all dedicated funds have been dispersed or until 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, May 27, 2027, whichever occurs first.
  • CSFS: Industrial innovation in food systems- technical assistance and planning (TAP): Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with the final deadline being 5:00 PM (CT) on June 21, 2028. The MPCA is soliciting proposals to distribute $7.2 million in grant funding for technical assistance and planning services to food and beverage manufacturers and organic waste processors across Minnesota. Funding is designed to identify and evaluate facility-specific efficiency projects and decarbonization efforts that will, if implemented, enable the grantee to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs while lessening environmental impacts through reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, criteria air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or waste. Eligible applicants include food and beverage manufacturing facilities and food system organic waste processors. Eligible applications received by 5 p.m. on the 21st of each month will be reviewed and evaluated. This will continue until funds are fully encumbered, or June 21, 2028, whichever occurs first.
  • CSFS: Native-led organizations Tribal food sovereignty grant (MPCA): The MPCA has approximately $4 million available for projects related to Tribal food sovereignty that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These grants will be awarded to Native-led organizations that work with Native populations not on reservation lands. Projects must reduce greenhouse gas emissions while centering Native and Indigenous knowledge, strengthening resiliency, advancing economic opportunity, and supporting health in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.
  • Solid Waste Processing Facilities Capital Assistance Program (MPCA): CAP provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to encourage investment in the proper management of solid waste. Eligible applicants are Minnesota cities, counties, solid waste management districts, and sanitary districts. Eligible projects are facilities that advance efforts to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recover resources.
  • Environmental assistance loans for capital costs associated with environmental processes and technologies (MPCA & private financial institutions)
  • Small business environmental improvement loans [0% interest for capital equipment purchases] (MPCA)
  • Funding for brownfield investigation (MPCA)
  • Clean Water Partnership loans (MPCA): Second-tier loans allow local entities to make loans to landowners and other stakeholders. 
  • Pollution Prevention Grant [Up to $50,000 or up to 75% of project costs] (BizRecycling and formerly Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy and MN Chamber of Commerce Waste Wise): Consider this opportunity if your business uses or produces any of the following chemicals with volatile organic compounds (VOCs); perchloroethylene (PERC); trichloroethylene (TCE); ground level ozone; fine particulate matter (PM2.5); or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).
  • Waste Reduction + Innovation Grants (BizRecycling): Up to $50,000 for eligible businesses, schools, and colleges to reduce waste through reuse, technology enhancements, or production redesign.
  • Food Waste Prevention + Recovery Grants (BizRecycling): Up to $20,000 for eligible food businesses, food shelves, and farmers markets to recover surplus edible food to distribute to people in need.
  • Recycling Grants (BizRecycling): Up to $10,000 for eligible businesses and up to $20,000 for eligible apartment buildings to improve recycling and food waste collection.
  • Bin-Only Grants (BizRecycling): Helps small businesses kickstart or improve recycling and organics collection with up to $2,500 in trash, recycling, and organics bins and equipment.
  • Safety Grant Program [Up to $10,000] (MNOSHA WSC): For projects designed to reduce the risk of illness or injury to their employees. Applications are reviewed over two-month intervals.