Introducing Clean Heat Minnesota
We are pleased to share Clean Heat Minnesota: a diverse, statewide coalition of Minnesotans working for clean, affordable energy for heating, cooking, and appliances.
Announced today, Clean Heat Minnesota is organizing for a state in which everyone can heat their homes and workplaces with reliable energy at consistent, affordable prices, while reducing indoor air pollution and tackling climate change. The coalition's mission is to ensure a thoughtful equitable energy transition in the state's building sector, with Minnesotans at the center.
In addition to CUB, coalition members include Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL), Fresh Energy, and dozens of local governments, cities, and organizations from around the state.
Natural gas used in homes, businesses, and other buildings are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota. The state is well on its way toward decarbonizing electricity, and we must make a similar effort in the natural gas system. As CUB has previously reported, natural gas utilities are accelerating spending on their infrastructure, which risks missing greenhouse gas reduction targets and creating unaffordable costs for ratepayers in the future. We must act now to move to clean heat and to protect Minnesotans from paying for outdated fossil fuel infrastructure for years to come.
The transition to clean heat will require change at the utility level and in every home, business, and community in our state. Clean Heat Minnesota is engaging organizers from across the state, recognizing that the transition may look different and have distinct impacts across Minnesota's diverse communities.
Key proceedings are already underway at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Last year, the PUC adopted CUB's recommendation to require gas utilities to undertake transparent long-term planning, as has been required of electric utilities for decades. Today CUB will be filing a detailed proposal regarding the procedure for gas utilities' plans per the PUC's request. And the legislature directed the PUC to open a proceeding to consider the future of gas in our state. Clean Heat Minnesota aims to demystify the regulatory process and center the voices of Minnesotans who stand to be most impacted and who have historically been underrepresented in the decision making process.
Visit cleanheatmn.org to learn more. Want to be a part? Join the coalition today to keep updated on what you can do in your community and keep up with CUB's advocacy for ratepayers at the PUC.