Minnesota

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

Relative to 2005 levels

Minnesota's Climate Action Framework

The 2005-2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in January 2025.

Climate Change Subcabinet

MPCA Climate Director

Governor's Advisory Council on Climate Change

"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.

Understanding Environmental Justice in Minnesota

At least 40% of the direct benefits of Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (green bank) activities must flow to environmental justice communities.

MPCA – Environmental Justice Coordinator

Environmental Justice Advisory Group

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

Energy Transition Plan

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

Energy Transition Advisory Committee

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.

Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority

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

The Public Utilities Commission must use the EPA's updated SC-GHG estimates for monetizing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with each method of electricity generation. State law also states that “if, at any time,” EPA’s estimates “are exceeded by estimates released by the federal Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases or its successors, the Commission shall adopt the working group estimates.”

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

The MPUC is the principal state-level agency responsible for generation facilities of at least 50 MW. The Commission also handles permitting for wind projects of at least 5 MW. A site permit from the state “shall supersede and preempt all zoning, building, or land use rules, regulations, or ordinances” promulgated by local governments.

Minnesota received a C grade from Freeing the Grid.

Entities that own more than 750 miles of transmission lines in Minnesota must evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of installing grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to address grid congestion. The Public Utilities Commission can approve cost recovery mechanisms for cost-effective GET investments.

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.

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

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

The state’s commercial building energy codes must achieve an 80% or greater reduction in annual net energy consumption by 2036 as compared to a 2004 model code baseline measure. Codes need to be updated every 3 years.

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

Minnesota will receive $8.5M in funding through the Inflation Reduction Act's 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.

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.

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

The Department of Commerce must develop a study exploring sites suitable for thermal energy networks statewide by January 15, 2026.

Gas utilities with more than 800,000 customers must include a district energy pilot in their 5-year "innovation plans," and must invest at least 15% of their innovation plan's budget in TENs. Other utilities are encouraged to consider alternatives to gas in their innovation plans, including district thermal.

Clean Cars Minnesota

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

2025 Metro Transit Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Transition Plan, with updates required every three years

2021 Minnesota Electric Vehicle Assessment

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

Relative to 2005 levels

Minnesota is ranked 5th out of 50 in the 2024 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

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.

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.

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