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	Commercial Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is ASHRAE 90.1-2019 with amendments. Establishing Policies Minnesota State Energy Code (2023)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2023
Enacted	Residential Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2012 IECC with amendments. Establishing Policies Minnesota State Energy Code (2014)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2014
Not Enacted	Stretch Building Energy Codes Empty column Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes
Enacted	Appliance Standards Empty column The sale of mercury-containing light bulbs will be phased out by 2025 in favor of LEDs. Establishing Policies HF 3911 (2024)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards	2024
In-Progress	Building Performance Standards Empty column Minnesota recieved funding through the Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes to adopt, implement, and enforce a building performance standard to reduce emissions from existing buildings by 50% by 2035. Establishing Policies Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes – Round 1 (2024)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards
Not Enacted	Clean Heat Standards Empty column Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards
Enacted	Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) Empty column Investor-owned electric utilities are required to achieve annual savings equivalent to 1.75% of gross annual energy sales, and public electric utilities are required to achieve annual savings equivalent to 1.5% of gross annual energy sales. Investor-owned and public gas utilities are required to achieve annual savings equivalent to 1.0% of gross annual energy sales. Establishing Policies HF 164 (2021) HF 4942 (2024)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2021
Enacted	Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Empty column Minnesota has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs. Establishing Policies Sec. 216C.435 MN Statutes (2010) Sec. 216C.436 MN Statutes (2010)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2010
Partially Enacted	Weatherization Funding 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 - Weatherization Funding in Minnesota Policy Components not-enacted enacted enacted enacted 3/4	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency
Not Enacted	All-Electric Buildings Empty column All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Electrification

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