Creating “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework”

When it comes to fighting the climate crisis, the changes we make by 2030 — both in our policies and our actions — will have monumental impact. Since Fresh Energy’s founding more than three decades ago, our policy work has done much to spur the transition to clean energy in Minnesota and beyond. However, the energy landscape has changed dramatically in those three decades, as has the social and political landscape of engagement in the climate crisis.

Fresh Energy has evolved to meet the moment with “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework.”

To build our Strategic Framework, nearly 50 expert staff and board members provided extensive input through an 18-month process led by Sarah Clark of Clark Squared who played an integral role facilitating and guiding its development along with Fresh Energy’s board Chair Dr. Jacquie Johnson, Fresh Energy’s Executive Director Brenda Cassellius, as well as Fresh Energy’s Board of Directors and staff.

This comprehensive and inclusive process led us to reaffirm Fresh Energy’s Mission and Vision. It also led us to three core findings:

Policy remains a crucial lever for change. With our new Strategic Framework, Fresh Energy is leaning into our proven role shaping, driving, and implementing carefully crafted policy solutions at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Minnesota Legislature, and other high impact arenas.

If we are to achieve a carbon neutral economy by mid-century, we must address all sectors of our economy. The framework charts a course for Fresh Energy to double down on our clean electricity, transportation, and buildings work and also turn our solutions-focused expertise to decarbonizing heavy industry and agriculture.

Racial and economic equity must be central to every aspect of our work. While we have a years-long commitment to equity, Fresh Energy’s new Strategic Framework elevates and embeds equity into how we design policies, drive change, work with partners, and function as an organization.

Fresh Energy will formally launch “Vision 2030” in early 2025, but we have been carefully developing the framework for more than a year.

The process kicked off in July 2023 with in-depth 1:1 interviews between Sarah Clark, Fresh Energy’s board, and staff. These conversations got at the heart of where Fresh Energy has been and where Fresh Energy could go. In October of 2023, Sarah and Fresh Energy’s Board officially launched the process, appointing a Strategic Planning Board Committee that spent the next nine months convening deep-dive discussions to answer key questions about Fresh Energy’s current and possible future areas of focus. This group collaborated with Fresh Energy staff on the priorities and language that led to the organization’s Strategic Framework.

Simultaneously, a staff working group convened to explore and recommend updates to Fresh Energy’s Core Values and Guiding Principles that guide our work. In June of 2024, the group put forward bold and concise language centering Courage, Optimism, Responsibility, and Equity.

In October 2024, Fresh Energy’s Board of Directors approved Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework and Core Values and Guiding Principles, providing Fresh Energy a clear roadmap for the next five years.

“Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework” would not have been possible without the support, time, and guidance of the Board Strategic Planning Committee, Staff Strategic Planning Committee, and Core Values and Guiding Principles Working Group. Thank you to: