Midwest

Minnesota

In 2023, Minnesota passed sweeping climate and environmental justice legislation, including mandatory emissions reductions targets, but the state has only decreased emissions 9% from 2005-2021 — compared to their target of 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. In the same year, they also passed a clean energy standard of 100% clean electricity by 2040, and renewable electricity generation has almost doubled over the last decade, largely from wind. While the state has no fossil fuel reserves or production, it plays an essential role in the interstate transport of coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

GHG Reduction Targets

All targets relative to 2005 levels

2025 :

30%

2030 :

50%

2050 :

Net-zero

Governor

Tim Walz (Democrat)

House Party

Democratic Majority

Senate Party

Democratic Majority

Legislative session

2/12/24 - 5/20/24

US Climate Alliance Status

Member

Key Offices & Links

34

Policies Enacted or In Progress

across 7 policy areas

See all

28

Policy Opportunities

across 6 policy areas

See all

Midwest

12 states

This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Compare with other states

Progress by Policy Area

Enacted
In-progress
Partially Enacted
Not Enacted

Glossary of Terms

Status	Policy	Policy Area	Policy Category	YR Enacted
Enacted	Clean Energy and Renewable Portfolio Standards Empty column 25% renewable energy by 2025 \| 80% clean electricity for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), and 60% for munis and coops by 2030 \| 55% renewable and 90% clean electricity by 2035 \| 100% clean electricity by 2040 Establishing Policies Minn. Stat. §216B.1691 (2007) HF 7 (2007)	Electricity	Energy Plans and Targets	2023
Not Enacted	Electricity Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets Empty column Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year.	Electricity	Energy Plans and Targets
Not Enacted	Clean Energy Plans Empty column Clean energy plans are documents that outline the policies and strategies states can implement to meet clean energy targets. Draft plans are often published first, and after a period of public comments and revisions, a final plan is released.	Electricity	Energy Plans and Targets
Partially Enacted	Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out Empty column The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies SPOT - Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out in Minnesota Policy Components enacted not-enacted not-enacted enacted enacted 3/5	Electricity	Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted	Net Metering Empty column The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies SPOT - Net Metering in Minnesota SPOT - Aggregate Net Metering in Minnesota Policy Components enacted enacted enacted not-enacted enacted not-enacted enacted enacted enacted enacted not-enacted 8/11	Electricity	Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted	Shared Renewables Empty column The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies SPOT - Shared Renewables in Minnesota Policy Components enacted enacted enacted not-enacted enacted enacted 5/6	Electricity	Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted	Community Choice Aggregation Empty column Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.	Electricity	Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted	Energy Storage Targets Empty column Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies.	Electricity	Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage
Enacted	Interconnection Standards Empty column Minnesota received a C grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies Freeing the Grid Minnesota Grade (2023)	Electricity	Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage	2023
Enacted	Coal Phaseouts Empty column Requires 100% of electric utilities’ total retail electric sales to be generated from carbon-free technologies by 2040, effectively eliminating coal from its electricity portfolio. Establishing Policies HF 7 (2023)	Electricity	Coal Retirement	2023
Not Enacted	Coal Plant Securitization Empty column Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers.	Electricity	Coal Retirement

Minnesota

Key Offices & Links

34

28

Midwest

Progress by Policy Area

Climate Governance and Equity

Cross-Sector

Electricity

Buildings and Efficiency

Transportation

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Natural and Working Lands

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Minnesota