On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the 100% clean electricity bill into law alongside elected officials, business and nonprofit leaders, and organized labor. An affordable and reliable carbon-free electric supply is the foundation of Minnesota’s work to cut carbon pollution in all sectors of our economy and the new 100% clean electricity law further codifies Minnesota’s role as a leader from the north on clean energy and climate.
“This landmark achievement by Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature will benefit Minnesotans for years to come across our economy, environment, communities, and beyond,” said Michael Noble, executive director of Fresh Energy. “This bill is just the beginning and Fresh Energy is looking forward to continued collaboration with all the stakeholders and Minnesotans who contributed to making this bill law.”
The 100% clean electricity law commits all utilities to provide Minnesota customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, with compliance benchmarks every five years. On February 2, 2023, the Minnesota Senate passed the version of the bill (House File 7) that passed the Minnesota House on January 26, 2023, and was authored by House Majority Leader Jamie Long (61B) with 34 co-authors. House File 7 matches the language in the Senate version of the bill, Senate File 4.
Fresh Energy applauds bill authors Senator Nick Frentz and House Majority Leader Jamie Long, and members of the Minnesota House and Senate who voted “yes” to pass the 100% clean electricity bill. We also recognize the actions of the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee, chaired by Senator Nick Frentz, and House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee, chaired by Representative Patty Acomb, for hearing the bill and passing it out of committee in January.
Fresh Energy would also like to recognize the thousands of Minnesotans, as well as partner organizations, business and utility industry stakeholders, organized labor, youth leaders, and grassroots activists who worked with our political leaders to find common ground to make this bill law.
We are looking forward to collaborating with partners and stakeholders to be active participants in the successful implementation of the 100% law at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Minnesota state agencies, in Minnesota communities, and beyond.
View the signing ceremony: