A Decade of Impact: CEEM’s 10 Years at the Minnesota Legislature

Today, the Minnesota Legislature convenes for the 2026 session, kicking off another important year for our state. For CEEM, this moment marks ten years at the Capitol delivering and amplifying the business voice of clean energy to ensure Minnesota’s energy policies reflect the growing role of energy efficiency and clean energy in our economy and communities. As lawmakers return to St. Paul, we’re looking back at what a decade of impactful work and collaboration has made possible.

Over the past decade, CEEM has worked alongside our business members, legislators, state agencies, and partners to advance practical policies that shape how energy is generated, transmitted, distributed, and consumed in Minnesota. Political dynamics have shifted. Energy markets have evolved. Clean energy is not a niche issue; it’s an economic strategy. Clean energy creates jobs, saves families money, attracts private investment, strengthens communities, and helps position Minnesota as a national leader.

Here’s an inexhaustive look at some of the milestones along the way.

2016: Supporting clean energy jobs and investments

CEEM and its business members led and supported in-state efforts focused on the Clean Power Plan and the related State Implementation Plan in order to spur clean energy jobs and investment. The organization also worked to enact favorable state tax policies at the Minnesota Legislature to accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies while pushing back against policy proposals that sought to levy onerous fixed charges on distributed energy resources.

2017: Solar*Rewards

The organization successfully worked to extend and increase funding for Minnesota’s Solar*Rewards program and mobilized businesses to share the many benefits of the Conservation Improvement Program and Community Solar Program in an attempt to deter legislative efforts that sought to significantly weaken both.

2018: Increasing Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard

CEEM and its members provided critical business support at the Minnesota Legislature as part of efforts to increase the state’s Renewable Energy Standard to 50% by 2030. Additional policy work included attempts to increase the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard as well as create new market opportunities in the areas of energy storage, building codes, and biomass energy. CEEM and its business members also held roundtable discussions focused on energy and the economy with Minnesota’s gubernatorial candidates.

2019: Expanding the toolkit

In 2019, CEEM utilized its strength in relationship building and education to support bipartisan legislation that expanded Minnesota’s clean energy toolkit. The adoption of the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program opened new private financing pathways for energy efficiency and clean energy projects across the state. This legislation reduced barriers to financing new construction through C-PACE, helping unlock additional economic development opportunities in Minnesota’s growing clean energy market and ultimately creating the right conditions to accelerate the clean energy transition.

2020: Critical sector worker exemptions for COVID-19

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CEEM was instrumental in securing critical sector worker exemption from the Minnesota Legislature for the state’s clean energy industry and helped secure additional years of funding for the Solar*Rewards program. The organization also provided important lawmaker education on the Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act.

2021: Modernizing energy efficiency

In 2021, CEEM helped to pass the ECO Act. This was the most significant energy policy to be enacted into state law in over a decade. ECO modernized utility energy efficiency programs, expanded opportunities for beneficial electrification and fuel-switching, and strengthened Minnesota’s ability to reduce energy waste cost-effectively. It reinforced a simple core principle: the cleanest and cheapest kilowatt is the one we don’t use. It also ensured that affordability and reliability remain at the center of Minnesota’s energy strategy. According to the 2025 Minnesota Energy Factsheet, Minnesota businesses and residents saved more than $307 million in energy costs from ECO in 2021 and 2022, the most recent years for which data is available.

2022: Increasing funding to the bioIncentive program

A divided government during the 2022 Minnesota legislature stalled any progress on clean energy policy. However, the Agriculture bill that was passed included a small increase in funding to the bioincentive program. While the program continues to need additional funding, CEEM will work to ensure adequate funding for the state’s bioeconomy production incentive.

2023: A defining year

The 2023 session marked a defining moment in the state’s clean energy future and continues to provide direction for the energy industry.

CEEM was proud to participate in the passage of Minnesota’s Clean Electricity Standard by demonstrating the significant economic value clean energy businesses bring to the state and by elevating real stories of companies creating family‑sustaining careers for Minnesotans in communities across all regions. The standard sets a path to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040 and offers a foundation for future state energy policy. The law provides clarity for long-term investment, prioritizes local job creation, and helps guarantee that affordable, reliable power is available to all Minnesota residents and businesses.

Other significant legislation enacted following the passage of the 100% Clean Electricity Standard by 2040 included investments of hundreds of millions in funding and other supportive policies and programs, accelerating the transformation of the state’s energy sector. The Legislature appropriated funds to create Minnesota Energy Alley to support innovative pilot and demonstration projects, as well as the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA), which leverages public and private funds to finance clean energy projects that might struggle to find traditional bank loans. Funding was also allocated to incentives, including electric vehicle purchases, solar array development, and heat pump installations.

2024: Clearing the way for deployment

In 2024, CEEM members identified pain points in the state’s permitting process for large-scale energy projects, which were slowing down the transition and making it harder to offer affordable clean power. In response, the legislature passed the Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Reform Act, streamlining the permitting process for large renewable energy and transmission projects. By improving efficiency at the Public Utilities Commission and reducing unnecessary delays, the law ensures wind, solar, and battery storage projects can move forward responsibly and on time. Moreover, this act is a model for permitting reform on the federal level, which is currently in conversation in the US Congress.

That same year, CEEM partnered with Grid Catalyst and the State of Minnesota to launch Minnesota Energy Alley. At a time of unprecedented global investment in clean technologies, Minnesota Energy Alley strengthens Minnesota’s competitiveness by supporting energy startups, connecting entrepreneurs with partners, and building on the region’s deep technical expertise and industry leadership. The public-private partnership seeks to elevate Minnesota as a go-to region for advancing and deploying innovative energy technologies and businesses while securing the state’s energy and economic development future.

2025: The year data centers took center stage

In 2025, CEEM helped secure a series of pragmatic policy wins that strengthen Minnesota’s energy system and supported long-term affordability and reliability. Bipartisan permitting reforms continued to improve environmental review processes while maintaining strong standards, improving clarity and efficiency for projects. Lawmakers passed biofuel legislation that preserved eligibility for advanced technologies.

CEEM also supported a pragmatic approach to regulating hyperscale data centers that keeps Minnesota competitive while adding prevailing wage standards, water-use safeguards, clean energy tariff options, and contributions to the weatherization fund.

The last ten years have shown what’s possible when businesses, policymakers, utilities, workers, and communities work toward practical, forward-looking energy solutions. This progress reflects sustained engagement, bipartisan collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a clean energy future that works for all Minnesotans.

CEEM recognizes that energy in Minnesota looks different today than it did ten years ago, when we originally set out to provide a unified voice for clean energy businesses. Demand for energy is increasing for the first time in over a decade as electrification and new large load data centers seek access to the grid. Market conditions continue to fluctuate with the shifting of tax incentives and credits. Federal policy changes have impacted state-level business in new ways. These changes underscore the critical need for CEEM’s work and its commitment to educating Minnesotans and policymakers on the business case for clean energy, leading to family-sustaining jobs and sustainable economic development, all while supporting the state’s clean energy laws and goals.

As the 2026 session begins, CEEM remains focused on the work ahead. Our policy priorities for this session stem from hours of conversations with our members. CEEM aspires to advance Minnesota’s clean energy leadership by leading and engaging in nonpartisan work to expand market opportunities and clean energy jobs, nurturing the development and deployment of clean technologies, and rapidly decarbonizing our economy. CEEM is particularly focused on strengthening workforce development and fostering innovation across the clean energy sector; modernizing and upgrading Minnesota’s grid infrastructure to support a more resilient and flexible power system; streamlining energy infrastructure and environmental permitting to reduce barriers and accelerate deployment; and expanding energy efficiency efforts and implementing decarbonization strategies across the economy.

We look forward to working with our members and partners to educate legislators on both sides of the aisle to keep Minnesota moving towards a cleaner, more prosperous, and more resilient energy future.