Minnesota law will soon require electricity to be carbon-free by 2040, as the 100% clean electricity bill heads to Governor Walz’s desk. This is one of Minnesota’s largest-ever moves to address climate change. It is the result of more than four years of work by the Governor and legislative leaders, environmental experts, utilities, labor, consumer…
Published January 17, 2023 Hearings begin this week on a bill to fully decarbonize Minnesota’s electricity sector. The bill, authored by Representative Jamie Long (HF 7) and Senator Nick Frentz (SF 4) and supported by Governor Walz, would require electric utilities to provide carbon-free power by 2040, ten years earlier than Xcel Energy’s and Minnesota…
Published October 31, 2022 Written by Akia Vang and Austin Northagen Renewable energy has become more prevalent and integrated into the grid over the past few years– and is expected to become more abundant in the years to come. In Minnesota, the share of renewable energy generation has grown steadily over time, from 16 percent…
Published January 25, 2022 CUB is excited to share that the Clean Energy Resource Teams have awarded 74 Seed Grants throughout the state. Seed Grants are awarded every two years and help community focused organizations initiate energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The projects selected are meant to be innovative and promote the benefits of…
January 20, 2022 Public News Service Mike Moen Minnesota is seeing a flurry of utility rate hikes either being considered or taking effect. Those who support renewable energy warn there’s some misleading information in the public sphere about what is behind the activity. Xcel Energy has a pending rate hike before state regulators. If approved, it would…
Published July 27, 2021 As a member of the Metro CERTs Steering Committee, I am excited to share that CERTs has launched their calls for 2021 grant proposals. CERTs will be accepting applications across the state, organized into seven regions. There is plenty of time to get your applications in; the due date is October…
Published January 21, 2021 Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives Climate and Energy Committee will hear a bill that would require the state’s electric utilities to supply 100% of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2040. The bill, authored by committee chair Jamie Long with the support of Governor Walz and his administration, sets a…
Published January 13, 2021 Minnesota Power plans to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity to northern Minnesota by 2050. In an announcement yesterday, the Duluth-based utility promised 70% renewable electricity by 2030. It will reduce coal plant operations immediately and close all of its coal generation by 2035. And it will do so while maintaining the reliability…
June 17, 2020 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett and Brooks Johnson Xcel Energy to tackle $3B worth of projects earlier than planned; Minnesota Power will spend $40M on new solar arrays. Xcel Energy would accelerate nearly $3 billion in spending, particularly on large renewable-energy projects, in response to calls from state utility regulators to jolt Minnesota’s…
Published March 9, 2020 Solar energy is becoming a popular investment for Minnesota cities and counties. With the great opportunity to utilize school rooftops, fields and parking lots, some schools have installed solar, and others are showing interest in investing in renewable energy. For schools, solar can provide potential cost savings, offer a learning experience…
