The clean energy workforce in Minnesota continues to grow, adding nearly 1,700 jobs in 2024. Clean energy jobs are growing over 2x faster than the overall economy in Minnesota at 2.6%. These jobs support families, strengthen communities, and reflect Minnesota’s long-standing commitment to innovation and sustainability.

The clean energy industry is made up of the following sectors:

• Renewable energy employs people in solar, wind, bioenergy and low-impact hydro technologies.
• Energy efficiency includes workers who specialize in ENERGY STAR and efficient lighting, traditional and high efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) & renewable heating and cooling (H&C), advanced materials and other similar technologies.
• Grid and storage workers focus on improving and maintaining energy storage and distribution.
• Clean vehicles includes workers who build and implement hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles.
• Clean fuel workers develop clean fuels such as biodiesel and non-corn ethanol (made from gasses and agricultural waste).

This growth notably occurred before the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is expected to slow national clean energy expansion. Minnesota’s proactive investments in workforce development and technical training have helped buffer against uncertainty.

Clean grid and energy storage roles saw a significant increase in 2024, climbing to more than 3,100 jobs. This growth was driven in part by a 2.6% increase in battery storage employment. These workers are helping modernize Minnesota’s electrical infrastructure, ensuring that renewable energy can be stored, distributed, and delivered reliably across the state.

As demand for electricity rises, especially with the growth of data centers and electrified transportation, grid modernization and storage will be critical to maintaining affordability and reliability.

To maintain momentum, Minnesota must:

• Advance transmission projects: With the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s approval of Tranche 2.1, timely construction of new transmission lines is essential.
• Power data centers with clean energy: As energy demand from data centers surges, Minnesota must prioritize renewables and storage to meet demand sustainably.
• Align permitting with federal policy: Streamlining environmental permitting and supporting market-stabilizing policies will help retain and grow clean energy jobs.

As Minnesota navigates a shifting policy landscape, the state’s clean energy workforce remains a pillar of economic opportunity and climate resilience. Continued investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and smart policy will be key to maintaining and expanding the clean energy workforce in the coming years.