If this will be your first time at the Minnesota Capitol, welcome! We encourage you to arrive early to find time to park and make your way into the building (it’s the one with the gold on top!) If weather permits, leave your jacket in the car, it can be hard to find places to store jackets inside. On that note, the dress code at the Capitol is typically business-professional. The Capitol has plenty of water fountains, so bring a reusable water bottle and a snack or two.

If you’re arriving between 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on March 6, please come to the Rotunda where event staff will have a table setup with information about the day and our legislative priorities. The event staff will be distributing lanyards (sponsored by Apex Clean Energy) so that attendees and policymakers can easily identify who is onsite for Clean Energy Business Day.

Want to preview the Capitol Complex? Review the map to help you navigate the area.

After getting re-energized at the rotunda gathering, we will meet in the Vault (ground floor) at 1:35 p.m. to hear from legislative leaders about their stance on clean energy in Minnesota. This is the perfect opportunity to listen to policymakers from both sides of the aisle and ask questions to the legislators moving bills forward during this year’s legislative session. In between the speakers, you’ll have time to network, relax and soak up the atmosphere of Clean Energy Business Day 2025.

During our day of education, many participants will be meeting with their legislators. These meetings are usually with multiple constituents, so they can be a little different than a one on one meeting with a lawmaker. For a group meeting, it is best to meet a few minutes ahead near your meeting location to review your strategy. Know what is most important for each constituent to share and try to allow time for each participant to get their point across. Be brief and respectful of others as you make your case. You can always follow up with an email to their legislative assistant with more details about your specific needs. Be sure to leave any materials with your legislator as well, so they can refer back to them. As a reminder, we’re striving to elevate the business voice so we encourage you to focus your points in this area.

Feeling a little nervous? MnSEIA’s Young Professionals in Clean Energy group is hosting a virtual ‘how to talk with your legislator‘ event on March 3. All are welcome to attend. Need support while at the Capitol? Find an event staff member who will happily point you in the right direction.

One of the best parts of gathering so many business and clean energy leaders together for this day is the opportunity to network at the happy hour after the events of the day. Join us at 4 p.m. at the Gnome Craft Pub for appetizers, drinks and networking. Our top tips for networking success:

• Be genuinely curious – ask other people questions and listen to what they have to say
• Bring business cards – you want to have a way to stay in touch if you do connect with someone
• Practice your “pitch” if you’re nervous – who are you and what do you do?
• Keep it light – there is no pressure to make the next biggest deal of your career here. You can show up, enjoy yourself and meet some new people who are interested in clean energy
• Try keeping your conversations in a U shape, instead of a circle so more people are able to join