We are already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis in Minnesota and around the country as extreme weather events unfold almost weekly. Amid these unprecedented challenges, we must work together to take action.
In 2024, Fresh Energy’s expert staff and partners, clean energy advocates, and all Minnesotans helped make progress on our state’s clean energy future by driving policy and regulatory change. From helping Minnesota rethink its approach to clean energy permitting to accelerating Minnesota’s residential building code, each accomplishment brings us closer to a just, prosperous, and resilient clean energy future shaped by Fresh Energy’s thoughtful approach to developing meaningful policies with equitable outcomes.
Entering 2024, our team of policy analysts, advocates, and regulatory experts had set ambitious goals and have been pleased with progress we made alongside partners, donors, and stakeholders. Together, we accomplished a lot! Here are a few of our favorites, in no particular order:
1. Largest ever regional grid upgrade in the U.S. is approved
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which operates the wholesale electric power market for Minnesota and 14 other states and Manitoba, approved nearly $22 billion of long-range transmission projects across the upper Midwest which will enable nearly 116 gigawatts of new renewable generation and storage to come online. Fresh Energy was at the table throughout this portfolio’s development at MISO and will continue working to ensure that transmission investments help Minnesota reach its goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.
2. Worked to guide Minnesota’s residential code update through multiple venues
Thanks to strategic advocacy, Fresh Energy is advancing updates to Minnesota’s residential code at the agency and legislative levels. In 2024, after years of advocacy by Fresh Energy and partners for more efficient residential energy codes, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill that requires a 70% reduction in energy use by 2038 for new residential buildings in our state compared to the 2006 baseline. Fresh Energy also has a staff representative on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) working to ensure the recommendations put forward help Minnesota’s residential buildings be sustainable for decades to come.
3. New partnership with Empower Crookston shines the light on northern Minnesota
Thanks to the work of Empower Crookston, in partnership with Fresh Energy, 720 homes in Crookston are anticipated to be improved with energy audits, better insulation, and electric appliances. This work is a direct result of Fresh Energy’s partnership with local organizations and will ensure these homes are healthy, affordable, and future-ready.
4. Partnered with more than 20 community-based organizations to advance a new pilot project to provide equitable assistance
Fresh Energy signed on to a petition at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission with partners including Sabathani Community Center, UNIDOS MN, Community Stabilization Project, and beyond in support of Xcel Energy’s proposed pilot project that will provide direct, automatic enrollment in Xcel’s energy affordability programs to high energy-burdened Minnesotans across the state — providing help for an estimated 22,000 households in 71 communities.
5. A settlement in Xcel Energy gas plant proposal case and its Integrated Resource Plan paves the way for gigawatts of clean energy
In October of 2024, Fresh Energy and partners within the Clean Energy Organizations after two years of regulatory advocacy, joined a settlement that marks major progress in Xcel Energy’s and Minnesota’s energy transition. An element of the settlement green-lights four new clean energy projects for immediate construction, and provides Integrated Resource Plan outcomes that align with recommendations we put forth for thousands of megawatts of new renewables and storage.
6. Helped launch new Midwest nonprofit to build a just energy transition
Conceived by Fresh Energy in 2019, the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition launched in early 2024 as a 501c3 nonprofit led by long-time Midwest BDC leader Marnese Jackson as inaugural executive Director. Through its work, the organization provides resources to grow and establish new capacity in the Midwest to help decarbonize buildings equitably by providing funding, resources, and best practice.
7. Streamlined clean energy and transmission permitting
In order to actually achieve Minnesota’s 100% by 2040 law, our state must speed up the pace at which clean energy can be “deployed” or built. To support this, Fresh Energy worked alongside a number of energy stakeholders at the Minnesota Legislature to successfully advocate for legislation that implements a number of important improvements that, collectively, significantly reduce the time required for both clean energy and transmission projects to be reviewed, approved, and permitted.
8. Explored how Minnesota’s gas planning compares up against other states
Fresh Energy published a first-ever comparison of Minnesota’s Natural Gas Innovation Act framework to the regulatory structures used in other states. Through this work, we aim to demonstrate how different strategies are being pursued in other states and what it means for the future of gas decarbonization.
9. Led a bill a that will help Minnesotans save money and access safer lighting
Fresh Energy worked closely with legislators to pass a bill at the Minnesota Legislature that phases out all lightbulbs containing mercury over the next few years. Fluorescent lights, which always contain mercury, are inefficient and toxic, which is harmful for both our environment and human health.
10. Otter Tail Power’s Integrated Resource Plan adds carbon-free generation
In May 2024, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a modified version of Otter Tail Power’s Integrated Resource Plan that included 200-300 megawatts of new solar by 2027, 150-200 megawatts of new wind by 2029, and 20-75 megawatts of battery storage by 2029. These are significant carbon-free additions for the utility and Fresh Energy was part of a core group of organizations that engaged in the docket.
11. Metro Transit gets clear path to electrification
Fresh Energy and partners at the Coalition for Clean Transportation (CCT) collaborated to pass legislation giving Metro Transit a clear runway to electrify its bus fleet. The legislation also directs Metro Transit to prioritize the deployment of zero-emission buses in environmental justice areas.
12. Engaged in and advancing green ammonia thought leadership in Minnesota
Through a variety of working groups hosted by partners at RMI, Minnesota Farmers Union, and Great Plains Institute, Fresh Energy is in collaborative conversations about what distributed green ammonia production could look like in Minnesota. Fresh Energy also helped plan the first-ever Green Ammonia Summit in Morris, Minnesota, hosted by Minnesota Farmers Union.
13. Advanced modernization and proactive upgrades in Xcel’s Integrated Distribution Plan
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission advanced many of Fresh Energy’s positions in Xcel Energy’s Integrated Distribution Plan. Thanks in part to Fresh Energy’s engagement in the docket, the Commission’s decision centers greater budget scrutiny, improvements to grid efficiency, and proactive upgrades and cost allocation — in addition to ensuring rooftop solar is properly considered.
14. Collaboration brings new voices to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
As a co-founder of the Clean Heat Minnesota coalition, Fresh Energy is helping new community and organizational voices reach the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Through this work in 2024, the coalition successfully advocated for gas utility customers at Xcel Energy to no longer subsidize the utility’s dues to pro-gas trade association, the American Gas Association. Additionally, coalition members filed comments and participated in the gas integrated resource planning proceeding alongside Fresh Energy, which resulted in the Commission ordering requirements that CenterPoint, Xcel Gas and MERC consider Minnesota’s 2050 net zero GHG goal and local government climate goals in resource planning, as well as conduct robust analyses of alternatives to gas system expansion that prioritize environmental justice areas.
15. Undertook a comprehensive approach to utility EV planning.
By engaging in utility Transportation Electrification Planning with partners, Fresh Energy successfully advocated for Xcel to Energy coordinate internally between electric vehicle, energy efficiency, and building electrification planning, including the use of its ECO programs, to achieve its transportation electrification goals. Fresh Energy also successfully advocated for Minnesota Power to file a multifamily EV charging pilot in 2024.
16. Mapped Minnesota’s most feasible, cost-effective path to building decarbonization
The Clean Heat Minnesota coalition, co-founded by Fresh Energy in 2023, released a first of its kind study in partnership with Synapse Energy Economics to inform Minnesota’s approach to an equitable and expeditious path to bringing Minnesota’s gas system to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
17. Collaborated to advance equity-focused outdoor equipment grant program
Thanks to Community Stabilization Project and Fresh Energy’s partnership, $1,000,000 in new grant dollars has been aside by the Minnesota Legislature for an innovative, equity-focused program to help Minnesotans purchase electric lawn and snow removal equipment. This grant program is an important step to make sure no one is left behind in the energy transition.
18. Prompted action with scrutiny of CenterPoint Energy’s ECO Plan
The Minnesota Department of Commerce re-opened CenterPoint Energy’s ECO (Energy Conservation and Optimization) Plan and required the utility to increase heat pump rebates and reduce its furnace rebates after Fresh Energy identified a discrepancy.
19. Provided support for Xcel Energy’s innovative Resilient Minneapolis Project
This year, the Resilient Minneapolis Project, an element of Xcel’s larger Integrated Distribution Plan, cleared its final hurdle enabling three Minneapolis community sites to install rooftop solar, a battery energy storage system, and microgrid controls on their buildings. Fresh Energy provided both written and in person support for this project at the Commission.
20. Participated in the Buy Clean Task Force to decarbonize Minnesota’s infrastructure material
Fresh Energy staff plugged into two working groups of the Buy Clean (Environmental Standards and Procurement) Task Force. These working groups officially mark the kickoff of the implementation phase of the Environmental Procurement Task Force which will give recommendations to the state for purchasing cleaner, lower-carbon materials in public projects and dates by which standards must be developed for different building materials.
21. Energy News Network joins forces with Canary Media
Energy News Network, an editorially independent arm of Fresh Energy founded in 2014, will join forces with Canary Media to expand its reach even further. With this merger, Canary and ENN will continue their reporting with urgency and integrity to shine a light on the stories that shape our country’s clean energy future.
22. Partook in global climate conversations at COP29
Fresh Energy staff attended and plugged into the Global Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, playing an important role in conveying developments from COP29 back to Minnesotans via the media, webinars, presentations, and beyond.
23. Helped Minnesotans speak up to fund Minnesota’s great outdoors
Fresh Energy undertook outreach to more than 25,000 Minnesotans to urge them to support the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund ballot amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in the November general election. Communications included other important details about the importance of voting, how to register, and beyond.
24. Provided thought leadership on clean energy’s role in Sustainable Aviation Fuels
In July, Fresh Energy and partners published Guiding Principles to help provide a framework for Minnesota in the development, promotion, and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels that can achieve climate, clean energy, and environmental justice goals.
Looking ahead…
As we look ahead to our ambitious goals for 2025, Fresh Energy’s work is more critical than ever as we push hard to do more, faster by advancing clean energy and climate policies here in Minnesota and the Midwest. As we plan for next year, here are a just a few things we are already working on:
- Ensuring Minnesota stays on track to achieve our historic 100% clean electricity law by supporting the development of new renewable energy projects, planning and constructing the grid of the future, and guaranteeing equitable access to clean energy programs.
- Providing a strong, defensive bulwark against policies that aim to undo the clean energy and climate progress we have made together at the Minnesota Legislature and beyond, ensuring Minnesota remains the country’s climate North Star.
- Implementing “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework,” which charts an equitable course for us to stay laser-focused on our clean electricity, transportation, and buildings work and turn our solutions-focused expertise to decarbonizing heavy industry and agriculture.
- Geothermal planning grants were one of many wins at the 2024 session of the Minnesota Legislature and will help expand clean geothermal building heating in our state. The Legislature established a new grant program — which just opened on December 15! — and appropriated $1.2 million to support local governments in the “pre-design” phase of geothermal development. The Fresh Energy team is looking forward to advancing more geothermal-friendly policies.
As we reflect on the past year and look ahead during this time of change, we remain firm in our unwavering commitment to equitably decarbonize our economy and fight against climate change in Minnesota through effective energy and climate policy. Thank you for your support!
