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.