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

34

Policies Enacted or In Progress
across 7 policy areas

28

Policy Opportunities
across 6 policy areas

Midwest

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

Progress by Policy Area

  • Enacted
  • In-progress
  • Partially Enacted
  • Not Enacted
Glossary of Terms
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Minnesota

Created in partnership with
Filters
Status Policy Policy Area Policy Category YR Enacted
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota's Climate Action Framework

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2022
Enacted
Empty column

Governor's Advisory Council on Climate Change

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2019
Enacted
Empty column

Climate Change Subcabinet

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2019
Enacted
Empty column

30% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | net-zero by 2050

Relative to 2005 levels

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The 2005-2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in January 2023.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Requires the MPCA to complete a cumulative impact analysis of EJ areas when issuing a permit.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Environmental Justice Advisory Group

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

MPCA – Environmental Justice Coordinator

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

"Environmental justice areas" are census tracts where at least 40% of the population is nonwhite, 40% have limited English proficiency, 35% of households have an income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level, or those located within "Indian Country".

"Disadvantaged communities" are communities defined as disadvantaged by the federal agency disbursing federal funds, or as "environmental justice areas" as defined by the state.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Understanding Environmental Justice in Minnesota

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Energy Transition Advisory Committee

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition 2021
Enacted
Empty column

The Energy Transition Grant program provides funds for research, planning, and implementation activities designed to assist the state's "energy transition communities" and workers following coal, natural gas, and nuclear plant closures.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Energy Transition Office within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Energy Transition Plan

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition 2022
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority

Cross-Sector
Climate Finance 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Utilities must incorporate the social cost of carbon in utility resource planning.

Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2018
Enacted
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

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota received a C grade from Freeing the Grid.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2023
Enacted
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
Electricity
Coal Retirement 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is ASHRAE 90.1-2019 with amendments.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2012 IECC with amendments.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2014
Enacted
Empty column

The sale of mercury-containing light bulbs will be phased out by 2025 in favor of LEDs.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards 2024
In-Progress
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.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Enacted
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
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2010
Enacted
Empty column

The Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program offers rebates for new and used electric or plug-in hybrid EVs: up to $2,500 for new EVs and $600 for used EVs.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Clean Cars Minnesota

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Model Year (MY) 2025: 22% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2021
Enacted
Empty column

2021 Minnesota Electric Vehicle Assessment

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets 2021
Enacted
Empty column

25% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | 65% by 2035 | 80% by 2040 | net-zero by 2050

Relative to 2005 levels

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota is ranked 5th out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
5/5
Transportation
Public and Active Transportation
Enacted
Empty column

The Environmental Standards Procurement Task Force is responsible for examining the implementation of a program requiring vendors of the state to measure, report, and limit the lifecycle greenhouse gas impact of certain construction materials.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Industrial Decarbonization 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The Soil Health Financial Assistance Program provides cost-share incentives for the purchase and retrofit of soil health equipment.

The Cover Crop Demonstration Grants Initiative provides grants to increase the establishment of cover crops and related tillage practices.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture 2022
Enacted
Empty column

Minnesota passed legislation to create a "Soil Health Practices Program" which may include both financial and technical support to establish soil health best practices.

Establishing Policies
Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture 2023

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

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