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Minnesota adjusts solar incentives to prioritize low-income households
Xcel Energy is dedicating a bigger share of its Minnesota solar incentives to lower-income customers in response to a new state law. Since launching in 2014, Solar Rewards has provided financial incentives to help thousands of Minnesota homeowners pay for small solar installations. Over the past five years, state lawmakers, regulators, and the utility have […]
New Minnesota law aims to lower barrier for participating in public utility cases
Arguing against a utility before state regulators can feel like a David and Goliath battle. Utilities routinely spend millions on experts, attorneys, and computer modeling to support their requests to raise rates, upgrade equipment, or try out new programs. Consumer or environmental groups that lack the resources to dissect complicated testimony or follow cases for […]
State, federal funding fuels expansion of Minnesota microgrid research center
A Minnesota college’s microgrid research center is preparing to expand after securing significant new state and federal funding. The University of St. Thomas’ Center for Microgrid Research plans to triple its three-person staff and enroll more students thanks to money from a $7.5 million state legislative appropriation and $11 million in federal defense bill earmarks […]
Minnesota program helps manufacturers train their teams for an all-electric future
Bloomington-based Thermo King has for decades manufactured diesel-powered refrigeration and heating units for use in semi-trailers, trains, ships and buses. The company’s logo can be seen on ubiquitous “reefer” trailers being pulled along highways across the country. As Thermo King has begun a massive transition to electrify its product lines, training employees has been a […]
Minnesota electric co-ops seek $970M in federal clean energy funds
A consortium of Minnesota electric cooperatives is preparing to apply for $970 million in federal funding that could help propel rural utilities toward the state’s 100% clean electricity target. The state’s largest generation and transmission cooperative, Great River Energy, convened the group, which so far includes more than half of its members. The utilities are […]
Minnesota community solar projects are about to get bigger and more far-flung
Minnesota community solar developers will be able to build bigger projects, farther from subscribers, under a recent law aimed at reinvigorating the state’s shared solar program and making sure more lower-income customers are able to participate. State lawmakers this spring approved several changes to the state’s decade-old community solar law, which lets Xcel Energy customers […]
Minnesota will use $3M IRA grant to expand outreach on climate action plan
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency plans to use a federal grant to help make sure the state’s climate strategies will benefit lower-income communities. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is a $5 billion federal program under the Inflation Reduction Act. It provides states and metro areas with funding to draft, update or evaluate climate action […]
In Minnesota, ‘smart panels’ seen as a possible alternative to expensive electrical upgrades
Heat pumps, induction stoves and other electric devices are increasingly seen as key to a clean energy future. And most new homes have electric service robust enough to handle them. But older homes were not designed for big electrical loads, and millions will require updates before those new appliances can be safely plugged in. In […]
Why Minnesota’s push to electrify government vehicles is going slower than expected
A lack of inventory from auto manufacturers and a shortage of fast-charging options in rural areas are among the factors slowing progress toward Minnesota’s state government fleet electrification goal. The Minnesota Department of Administration set a target in 2020 to make 20% of its vehicle fleet electric by 2027, part of an overall strategy to […]
Minnesota agency retools to ‘meet the moment’ on climate, clean energy
A state agency with a leading role in Minnesota’s clean energy transition is reorganizing to help the state implement its new 100% clean energy law and capitalize on a coming flood of federal spending. The Minnesota Department of Commerce recently announced changes to its energy division, including the high-profile hire of a former U.S. Senate […]
A hidden challenge for Minneapolis climate goals: shoddy insulation
About two-thirds of homes being listed for sale in Minneapolis have inadequate insulation, according to a review of energy disclosure reports. Since January 2020, Minneapolis has required homeowners to disclose the results of a recent energy audit before selling a property. Since then, the city has collected publicly accessible data on more than 16,000 residential […]
Minnesota power co-op wants to invest in flexibility for fossil fuel peaker plant
Minnesota’s largest electricity cooperative wants the option to burn diesel fuel oil at a central Minnesota peaker plant as a hedge against volatile natural gas prices. Great River Energy is seeking approval from Minnesota regulators to install fuel oil equipment at its 170-megawatt Cambridge peaker plant, which now burns only natural gas. The generation and […]