2025 Benefit Breakfast

Register to join Fresh Energy on September 30 for a dynamic conversation with three Minnesota thought leaders and changemakers who are overcoming challenges to create a new playbook for making clean energy and climate progress right here in Minnesota.

Federal rollbacks, alongside local and global setbacks, are creating uncertainty for what the future of clean energy and climate action can look like in Minnesota and the Midwest. Our expert panel will cut through the noise to translate national and global trends into real, local impact.

What progress is already happening in our backyard? What opportunities lie ahead? And how can Minnesota continue to lead the way? Join us for an electrifying conversation about what’s next for climate and energy — and how we can all take action to keep the momentum going.

All proceeds from this dynamic event will support Fresh Energy’s work to design, influence, and implement equitable policy to continue ambitiously advancing a carbon-neutral economy in Minnesota and the Midwest.

Featured Speakers

Karie Kirschbaum
Community Development Director, City of Crookston, Minnesota
Bob Blake
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Solar Bear and Native Sun Community Power Development
Alex Savelli
Global Executive Director – Electrolyzers Commercial, Accelera by Cummins

Hosted by Dr. Margaret Cherne-Hendrick
Chief Executive Officer, Fresh Energy

There are two types of tickets for the 2025 Benefit Breakfast. Please choose your tickets based on whether you plan to join us in person or virtually. Registration is required; please RSVP by September 16, 2025.

Event Details:

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Saint Paul RiverCentre
7:30-8 a.m. CT: Guest check in and Fair of the Future all-electric showcase
8-9:30 a.m. CT: Breakfast program
9:30-11 a.m. CT: Fair of the Future continues
$150 suggested minimum donation.*


*There is no fee to register for this event, but you will be asked for a donation during the program.

If you are not able to join us on September 30, please consider supporting our work by making a donation online.


Get involved!

Ready to turn climate ambition into action? Sponsor the event or rally your network as a table captain — and fuel progress together. Contact Meggie LaValley at lavalley@fresh-energy.org or 651 726 7561 for more information.


Thank you to our event sponsors!

Title Sponsor

VIP Meet and Greet Sponsors
ALLETE
Best Buy
Ecolab
Enterprise Energy
Mortenson
Xcel Energy

Match Pool Sponsors
Margaret and Ashlee Cherne-Hendrick
Ted and Karen Contag
Amy Gilbert and Worth Frank
Mark and Kate Hanson
Sarah F. Lang Fund
Mike Menzel and Kathy Iverson
Teresa Morrow and Dale Pippin
The Van Steenburgh/Ladner Family Fund
Kate Wolford and Ed Reilly

Clean Energy Champion Sponsors
White Bear Mitsubishi and Volkswagen of Inver Grove


Friends of the Future Sponsors
Aileron Communications
Ever-Green Energy
Fredrikson
Moss & Barnett P.A.
Taft 
Toro and MTI Distributing Inc.
U.S. Bank