Fresh Energy is excited to share the launch of the new, groundbreaking Clean Heat Minnesota coalition, bringing to bear more than a year of careful planning, partner cultivation, and close collaboration with a deep bench of 30 Minnesota organizations across environmental and energy sectors.
Clean Heat Minnesota is a statewide, multiracial coalition representing Minnesotans who want clean, affordable energy to power heating, cooking, and appliances.
Our state has substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the electric and transportation sectors, but our building sector has received less attention. Which is one of the key reasons that Fresh Energy has worked so hard to form this coalition. The Fresh Energy team, led by Margaret Cherne-Hendrick, senior lead, innovation and impact, with Joe Dammel, managing director, buildings, and Brynn Kirsling, senior manager, advocacy campaigns, has dedicated hundreds of hours to get the coalition to where it is today—launch day.
Clean Heat Minnesota is pioneering a unique coalition model because Fresh Energy shares equal leadership with COPAL a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life of the Latino community in Minnesota and Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, an advocacy nonprofit for utility consumers.
The shared goals of the coalition center ambition and equity, as we strive to secure Minnesota’s cleaner, more affordable, and equitable energy future. Four core goals include:
- Get Minnesota’s gas system to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the state’s climate goals.
- Use clean, Midwest-made energy that leverages Minnesota’s innovation to curb pollution and tackle climate change.
- Produce safe energy that eliminates indoor air pollution.
- Make available reliable energy with consistent prices we can all afford.
The coalition’s official launch announcement was on October 24 2023, at 11:30 a.m.
Fresh Energy will be sharing frequent updates about this coalition’s important work and in the meantime, we invite you to take a look at the Clean Heat Minnesota website which lists all the coalition partners, has a punchy and pointed introduction video to the issue, and more!
