Fresh Energy is excited to welcome Molly McMullen as our new Session Associate, Legislative Affairs to support our clean energy and climate priorities during the upcoming 2026 Minnesota legislative session. In her role, Molly will help advance policies that move Minnesota toward a clean energy future that works for all Minnesotans.
“I’m really thrilled to be joining Fresh Energy for this year’s legislative session,” says Molly, who will be spending January through May at the Capitol tracking bills, meeting with legislators, and supporting our policy solutions team as they work to advance our bold climate policies.
Molly recently graduated from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs with a Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy and brings a wealth of experience advocating for environmental, agricultural, and energy policy solutions during the 2024 and 2025 Minnesota legislative sessions.
I sat down with Molly to learn more about her background, what drew her to Fresh Energy, and what she’s looking forward to this session.
Tell me about your background and how you ended up at Fresh Energy
I grew up in central Minnesota and for the majority of my childhood lived next to a large wetland. I was fortunate to grow up outside and immersed in nature, which sparked my interest in science and a fascination with the intricacies and complexities of the natural world.
I received my biology degree at the University of Minnesota and had an internship with the Energy Transition Lab at the Institute on the Environment. I contributed to research studying the land use tradeoffs between producing corn for ethanol versus installing solar panels to use to power electric vehicles, comparing the two by researching how to calculate the miles per acre provided by each for powering vehicles. That experience really exposed me to new ways of thinking about the challenges climate change poses and how we can best meet those challenges.
I’d been narrowly focused on my hard science courses during my undergraduate years, and I became more interested in the myriad opportunities to address climate issues and transform how we power our lives. That led me to pursue a Master’s in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the Humphrey School.
I held a few different positions during this time. I held legislative advocacy internships for the last two legislative sessions, first with the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and then the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) — technically for the MinneAg Network, which is housed under IATP but co-facilitated by MN350, Minnesota Farmers Union, and the Land Stewardship Project. I found it very rewarding to follow policies as they advanced through committees and the floors of the Capitol over the session; it’s very refreshing to notice your work having an impact.
My other area of focus in grad school was food and agricultural systems. Similar to energy systems and policy, food and ag. is very complex. I held research positions and studied the ecosystem co-benefits from co-locating solar projects with native vegetation — quantifying how solar projects can affect an area’s soil health, water quality, and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. For my final capstone project, I worked with Great Plains Institute as part of the PV-SuCCESS project. I researched and analyzed policy landscapes associated with utility-scale solar deployment to identify specific policies and barriers affecting accelerated solar deployment in the Midwest.
How did you learn about Fresh Energy, and what drew you to working here?
I’ve been aware of Fresh Energy’s energy policy work for a few years now and am a big fan of the “Decarbonize” podcast! I knew of the organization’s work from my last two years at the Capitol, and I was also paired with Fresh Energy alum Anna Johnson through the Humphrey School’s alumni mentor program. We had great conversations that made me more familiar with Fresh Energy’s mission and advocacy.
I was thrilled to see this opportunity at Fresh Energy — I’ve always wanted to center my work on reducing our impacts on the environment and improving lives for people in the Midwest. Fresh Energy’s holistic approach to decarbonization aligns with my values and expertise, so I’m looking forward to my work here.
What will you be doing at Fresh Energy this legislative session?
I’ll be helping to keep track of bill priorities and bills that are moving through the Legislature this spring, as well as provide support to our policy solutions team as we work to advance clean energy and climate policy.
I’m bracing for a bit of uncertainty this session. The last two sessions have been a bit abnormal with a narrowly divided Legislature, reelections, and our new era of politics. With this year being an election year, I’m looking forward to seeing what legislation progresses and what priorities our House and Senate have given our current political environment.
I’m also excited to put my communications expertise to the test, too, by helping to write action alerts for Fresh Energy’s Action Network, as well as meeting with legislators, and coordinating with their teams.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Hobbies are kind of nonexistent when you’re in a grad school program, so I’m still working on figuring out what mine are now that I’ve finished! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my two cats, tending to my many, many houseplants, and spending time with my friends and family. I love to explore different coffee shops and restaurants around the Cities — there were some great holiday pop-up bars this winter, and I’m always looking forward to time at Venn Brewing and Wandering Leaf Brewery.
I also love getting outside. I’m fortunate to live close to some beautiful parks along the Mississippi River, which are great places to go for a walk and reconnect with nature.
I’m also very connected to up north. The North Shore and the Boundary Waters are special places to me, like a lot of Minnesotans, and I really enjoy hiking and camping up there. BWCA permits open up at the end of this month, so I’m getting on top of planning — it’s easier to get them sooner than later!
Thanks, Molly, and we’re excited to have you on the team as we work to advance bold clean energy and climate policy at the Minnesota Legislature this spring. Stay tuned for more soon!