Our policy work

As more cities and states take steps to lower their energy usage, evidence suggests that policies on building energy usage are helping nudge energy consumption lower. CEEM will continue to support discussions on the use of enhanced building performance standards to reduce energy waste and GHG emissions from Minnesota’s buildings. Currently, we are supporting legislation that would allow cities to adopt new editions of the commercial energy code before the state does.

In 2022, CEEM worked to expand the availability and use of energy efficiency technologies and programs to reduce energy waste, save businesses and consumers money, and improve the productivity of Minnesota’s economy.

CEEM worked to support the Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act that was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz in May of 2021. The legislation will ensure the cost-effective reduction of energy use and lowering of energy bills and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Minnesota. This bill passed with strong bipartisan support and is considered the most significant piece of energy legislation passed in Minnesota in the last decade.

CEEM’s 2023 goal is to dramatically decarbonize Minnesota’s economy and accelerate the growth of the state’s clean energy industry while fully leveraging recently passed federal policies.

Significant opportunities exist to accelerate Minnesota’s energy transition by leveraging recently passed federal legislation, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Rapid decarbonization across all sectors of our state’s economy is required to mitigate the risks posed by a changing climate and pragmatic solutions will deliver economic benefits and prosperity for all Minnesotans. CEEM will continue to support the WalzFlanagan Administration’s policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100 percent clean energy in the state’s electricity sector by 2040.

In 2023, CEEM will be working to extend and secure additional funding for Solar*Rewards as well as on funding for EV infrastructure. CEEM will also support efforts to implement a Clean Fuels Standard in Minnesota as well as modernize the Community Solar Garden (CSG) program.

CEEM will work to advance market opportunities for energy storage to provide resiliency, security, and cost savings. Energy storage is gaining momentum as a key component to ensuring reliability in a carbon-free electric grid.

In 2019 the legislature passed a bill to call for a study about energy storage and called on utilities to plan for more storage opportunities. CEEM supports expanded action in this area, as a critical step to building a clean energy economy and keeping pace with state-GHG reduction goals.

CEEM’s 2023 goal is to increase Minnesota’s market competitiveness and access to clean energy technology solutions, while implementing equitable strategies to existing industry workforce challenges.

With the recent passage of several historic federal policies investing in clean energy, the need for a well-trainined workforce is greater than ever. In this effort, CEEM will work to secure funding to assess and develop a clean energy workforce development plan for the state to deliver a just and inclusive clean energy future for all Minnesotans.

Minnesota is facing a severe oversupply problem when it comes to dealing with emerald ash borer. CEEM believes bioenergy facilities can help the state address this problem — but it will need additional funding to smooth the path. CEEM is a member of the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota, which works to expand market opportunities for agricultural and forestry products. One market is electricity generation; in 2020, biomass provided 2.1% of Minnesota’s electricity. Biomass facilities play an important role in the bioeconomy, as they create energy from products that would otherwise be waste.

CEEM supports policies that create more markets and business opportunities in the bioeconomy. One example is the Bioeconomy Production Incentive, which was passed by the Legislature in 2015. It has been a popular program and created jobs in advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biomass thermal energy. CEEM supports fully funding this incentive program.

According to a report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), “the transportation sector is currently the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Minnesota, accounting for about one-quarter of the total GHG emissions in the state.” The state has not made any progress in lowering emissions from the transportation sector in the last five years.

CEEM is dedicated to supporting solutions that work to reduce these emissions and electrify the transportation sector in Minnesota. Electrifying the transportation section not only helps reduce emissions, but it will also create additional jobs and help speed our transition to a clean energy economy.