Clean Energy Businesses

A Finnish delegation visited Minnesota to discuss business’ role in achieving clean energy economies.

The 2021 Virtual Clean Energy Business Day at the Capitol was March 10, 2021 and was a day dedicated to sharing with legislators how Minnesota’s clean energy businesses are leading technology innovation and helping shape the future of Minnesota’s clean energy economy. The event was put on in partnership with the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE), Clean Grid Alliance, MnSEIA and the U.S. Green Building Council. The event was sponsored by All Energy Solar and Apex Clean Energy.

Some 200 clean energy supporters filled the Minnesota Capitol this week for Clean Energy Business Day on March 4.

With climate debates making headlines nationwide, clean energy is increasingly a hot topic at the dinner table, at city hall, and all the way up to the Governor’s mansion. Recently, Clean Energy Economy MN has joined community discussions on climate, offering a perspective that fewer voters hear, how clean energy is growing jobs in their neighborhoods.

Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and several member companies recently reached out to Congress, noting policies that will impact Minnesota’s clean energy business community.

Governor Walz declared February 13 as ‘Clean Energy Business Day’ across the state of Minnesota — in large part due to the innovation and talents of the clean energy business community who have helped create nearly 60,000 jobs.

Small and medium businesses represent 90% of US businesses and consume about 20% of US energy, but they attract less than 4% of utility energy efficiency spending. That’s why CEEM joined the Twin Cities Small Business Energy Initiative to support a local solution, led by the Great Plains Institute and the Lake Street Council, based off of work happening nationwide called the Small Business Energy Initiative.

There are many ways to arrive at the same conclusion: energy efficiency is just a smart business decision.

There are many ways to tell the story of one of Minnesota’s most successful energy programs, called the Conservation Improvement Program or CIP. CEEM convened a recent legislator educational tour in Duluth. We were there to highlight that it’s cheaper to save energy (1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour) than buy energy (8 cents per kilowatt-hour). That little fact is at the heart of the CIP program, which works as a rebate program facilitated by our state’s utilities – like Minnesota Power or Xcel Energy, through the work provided by efficiency installers or design firms like LHB.