Hope in Action: 9th Annual Benefit Breakfast finds optimism in our climate future 

On the morning of Wednesday, October 9, 2024, over 600 in-person guests from across Minnesota and the nation — plus 200 virtual guests, including watch parties in Grand Marais, Bemidji, Duluth, and Rochester — attended Fresh Energy’s 9^th Annual Benefit Breakfast to celebrate the unprecedented change Fresh Energy is leading in Minnesota, share our vision for a clean energy future, and reflect on our hope for what’s next. Guests heard from featured speaker Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and special guest Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, got a sneak peek at “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework,” and watched several brand-new videos about our climate future. 

Thanks to supporters’ generosity, we’ve achieved milestones like the passage of the 100% clean electricity law and accelerating Minnesota’s commercial and residential building codes – all monumental steps toward an equitable, cleaner future. And we’re just getting started: the stakes have never been higher, and we’re determined to enact historic climate policy in Minnesota, the Midwest, and beyond. 

Here are our favorite highlights from the event: 

Fresh Energy’s Senior Lead, Public Affairs and Advocacy Justin Fay, started the program by sharing Fresh Energy’s mission and the purpose of our Benefit Breakfast: 

“We are here today because we all care deeply about an equitable clean energy future where everyone can thrive. And also, because we want to find and create hope together – which is so crucial at this really pivotal moment.” 

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Next, Fresh Energy Executive Director Dr. Brenda Cassellius welcomed guests and shared our bold vision for the future, called “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework.” This is set to be approved by Fresh Energy’s Board of Directors the week of October 14, 2024, and a sneak preview is available in the video below. 

“We have everything we need to equitably decarbonize our economy – we just need the policies to make it happen. Over the past year I’ve had the honor to meet many important partners and climate champions, and we’ve developed an exciting, new five-year strategic plan. Fresh Energy’s formula for success will continue to focus on some of our legacy work – policy and regulatory action in renewable energy, buildings, and transportation – and we’re also expanding into agriculture and heavy industry, two sectors that are critical to meeting our 2050 goals.” 

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Justin invited Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to the stage. Saint Paul is turning heads around the country and setting the pace for other cities in Minnesota for what it means to approach climate action and sustainability. 

“The experiences we have right here in Saint Paul and Minnesota are reflecting our changing climate every day,” said Mayor Carter, before introducing many of the climate actions Saint Paul has underway. “We’re committed to our work to build the state’s first networked heating and cooling system at The Heights neighborhood. We’re all-in in Saint Paul, so we’re also building the second networked heating and cooling system at Como Zoo.”  

He then noted that while our ability to impact the world is enormous, we can’t do it by ourselves; it takes partnerships to make the real work happen. 

“Fresh Energy’s work has been critical to the Legislature’s significant climate action over the last two years, including the carbon-free electricity by 2040 policy and the creation of Minnesota’s new state green bank,” said Mayor Carter. “Fresh Energy serves a unique role in being able to work together with advocates, unions, utilities, and both sides of the aisle to advance the clean energy transition.” 

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Fresh Energy’s Senior Lead, Innovation and Impact, Margaret Cherne-Hendrick, interviewed our featured speaker Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, and writer, about how we can imagine and build a clean energy future. Ayana’s newly released book, “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures,” takes a radical new lens to the climate crisis and presents a joyfully pragmatic view of the future. 

Margaret opened the conversation by asking why it’s important to take this perspective on the climate crisis and why she wrote the book now.

“We don’t need another book or more documentaries about the problem,” Ayana said. “We have the solutions we need. If anything, it’s a matter of how swiftly and how justly we can achieve these goals.” 

Margaret brought up climate equity and equitable investments, noting the interviews that dig deep on justice, asking how we can make sure the energy transition doesn’t lead anyone behind.

“It sounds like Saint Paul is doing a great job,” Ayana said. “I mean that sincerely: These initiatives matter, and proving that a city and a state in the Midwest can not only take this on but lead on it is important.”

“You argue in your book that we already have developed many of the technology solutions that we’ll need to combat the climate crisis,” Margaret said. “What do you see as the most important policies that we’ll need to accelerate the energy transition?”

“Oftentimes what slows us down is that we’re waiting for some magical new technology before we can do this,” Ayana answered. “Lots of people don’t understand we already have the solutions we need – from building codes to geothermal, clean energy, transportation, energy efficiency, to thinking about how we protect and restore ecosystems. Oftentimes it’s not even new policies we need, but implementation and how justly we can do that work.” 

“75% of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 hasn’t been built yet, whether that’s a part of the energy transition or not,” said Ayana. “Everything we build is an opportunity to create the future we want to live in. Those decisions can be ugly or beautiful, so a question I pose in the book is: What if climate solutions are beautiful?” 

Margaret closed the conversation by bringing up that in Ayana’s book, she says that “implementation” is the sexiest word in the English language.

“There’s a lot of talkers and not enough doers,” said Ayana. “We literally need everyone [engaged in climate work]. Think about what you’re good at, what work needs doing, and what brings you joy. This is the work of our lifetime, and finding that sweet spot [of those three things] will be different for everyone.”

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Next, Fresh Energy unveiled our inspiring “Fresh Energy and Me” video. For more than 30 years, Fresh Energy has built a reputation as a clean energy leader in Minnesota and the Midwest. “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework” continues to build on that legacy by committing Fresh Energy to decarbonize all sectors of Minnesota’s economy. This video includes several Fresh Energy supporters and partners who are finding hope and action through our work. 

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Long-time supporter and Fresh Energy Power Circle donor Lane Ayres shared the importance of funding climate action through generous donations. 

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After another year of historic flooding, high temperatures, and extreme weather events, Fresh Energy is committed to rapidly decarbonizing Minnesota, Midwest, and beyond. We’re boldly unveiling policy solutions to equitably build a clean energy future, and we’re thrilled for our new strategic framework to advance our work across all sectors of our economy.  

Special thanks to our event sponsors and table captains, and to everyone who joined us in-person and virtually to make this event a success! Together, we raised over $500,000 (and counting!) to continue creating a clean future where all can thrive. 

If you missed the event, want to share it with a friend, or experience it again, watch the full event here or by viewing the video below. Be sure to check out these great photos from our Benefit Breakfast. And finally: Support Fresh Energy’s important work by making a donation today. 

Thank you to our event sponsors!

Title Sponsor

Energy Access and Equity Sponsor

Fair of the Future Sponsor