Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) Program

Every year, the Minnesota Commerce Department runs a competitive RFP process to award $2.6 million for research projects into methods utilities can adopt to help their programs (Conservation Improvement Programs, or CIPs) increase efficiency in the use of the energy they sell. Any public or private business, institution, or individual can apply for grants from the CARD program. Recipients do not need to be Minnesota residents, but proposals are evaluated on their applicability to Minnesota-based utilities.