Minnesota
With a new Democratic trifecta, Minnesota is expected to make more progress on climate and environmental justice policy.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Tim Walz (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Minnesota State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Climate Change Portal – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Legal Profile — Lawyers for Good Government
Minnesota Energy Policy Simulator — Energy Innovation and RMI
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2025:
30%
By 2030:
50%
By 2050:
Net-zero
All targets relative to 2005 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
HF 7 (2023)
Definition
“Environmental justice areas” are defined as census tracts where at least 40% of the population is nonwhite; at least 35% of households have a household income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level; 40% of the residents have limited English proficiency; and/or that are within Tribal boundaries.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
25% by 2025 | 80% (IOUs) and 60% (munis and coops) clean electricity by 2030 | 55% renewables and 90% clean electricity by 2035 | 100% clean electricity by 2040
Legislation
2025: Minn. Stat. §216B.1691. (2007)
2030, 2035 and 2040: HF 7 (2023)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 8 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 10th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*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.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2012 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2018 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*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.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
*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.
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
25% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | 65% by 2035 | 80% by 2040 Relative to 2005 levels
Mandate Source
Voluntary – SF 145 (2007)
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 5th
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Mandate Source
Executive Order 19-37 (2019)
HF 3420 (2022) – Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to develop a healthy soils management plan by December 2023
Task Force Portal or Action Plan
Financial Incentives
HF 3420 (2022) – Creates the Soil Health Financial Assistance Pilot Program with $500,000 in funding
SF 0020 (2021) – Establishes and funds a soil health program
Technical Assistance & Education Programs
HF 2310 (2023) – Creates a “Soil Health Practices Program”