Minnesota's 2025 Energy Action Plan

Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the 2025 Energy Action Plan aims to demonstrate actionable steps for priority strategies and technologies over the next 10 years, as well as provide indicators that not only illustrate Minnesota's current energy landscape but will also track and communicate the impacts of the action plan. Final products will be used to make progress in advancing clean and affordable energy.

Purpose

Develop indicators and action plans to significantly advance a number of strategies and technologies for clean, efficient energy in Minnesota between now and 2025. Building on current and recent related efforts, the project will develop recommended next steps to leverage near-term opportunities for a clean, affordable, reliable, and resilient energy system.

Outcomes

1. Baseline metrics that depict the state's energy landscape and that identify areas that have the greatest potential for improvement through implementation of short-term clean energy strategies.
2. Outcome indicators to track and communicate the impacts of implementing the proposed strategies over time.
3. Action plans to significantly advance technologies and strategies for clean and efficient energy. The action plans will be useful to stakeholders in industries, states and local government, nonprofits, research, and other sectors.

Timeline

Data gathering and strategy development will be completed in approximately one year, after which the project will transition to advancing recommendations. Here is the next year's proposed timeline for Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings (subject to change):

1. July 2015: Introduction, discuss baseline indicators and preliminary technology/strategy focus areas
2. Late summer-fall 2015: Discuss baseline data, draft indicators, initial staff work on specific tactics and strategies
3. December 2015: Discuss detailed strategies developed by staff and technical working groups
4. Summer 2016: Discuss draft action plan and next steps

Technical working group meetings will be convened as needed.

Project Team

1. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will provide input in the development of technologies, strategies, baseline and outcome indicators, and steer the development of a 2025 Energy Action Plan.
2. The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Legislative Energy Commission will provide high-level guideance to assure that the project meets guidelines for USDOE funding, and interface with state government and the legislature.
3. Outside consultants will conduct analysis and research to support the deliberations of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The following consultants will support the project: Great Plains Institute (committee facilitation, stakeholder engagement); LHB, Inc. (metrics and indicators); Rocky Mountain Institute (analysis and report development).
4. Additional project guideance and contributions will come from the MN Environmental Quality Board, the MN Pollution Control Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Meetings and Materials

Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings will be held on the following dates, and are open to the public.

July 30, 2015
12:00-4:30 p.m.
Wilder Center
451 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul, MN 55104
Observers are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch
Agenda
Meeting powerpoint
Baseline metrics
Meeting notes

September 22, 2015
12:00-4:30 p.m.
Dakota Lodge
1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Agenda (final)
Draft report outline
July small group notes
Small group discussion guide and proposed criteria for action plan strategies
Meeting PowerPoint
Rocky Mountain Inst. presentation
Meeting notes

December 8, 2015
12:00-4:30 p.m.
Honeywell Learning Center
1985 Douglas Dr N, Golden Valley, MN 55422
Agenda (updated Dec. 3)
Draft outline of strategies (updated Dec. 7)
Meeting PowerPoint
Meeting notes


Clean Energy Resource Teams held meetings around the state to get feedback on this project. Meetings were open to the public.

Mankato - October 14, 2015
Staples - October 20, 2015
Grand Rapids - October 29, 2015
Greater Minnesota meeting notes

Metro CERT Annual Event, St. Paul - October 22, 2015
Notes


Webinar: Emerging Trends in Utility Green Power Products

October 28, 2015
12:00-1:30 p.m.
View video
View slides

This webinar brought in guest speakers to focus on a topic prioritized under the category of Energy Supply and Grid Modernization. Topics covered included:

• Emerging drivers of renewable energy market growth
• Pilot programs to supply new business development with renewable energy
• Best practices for green pricing program design

Speakers:

• Adam Capage, Vice President, Utility Partnerships, 3Degrees
• Letha Tawney, Director of Utility Innovation and Polasky Chair for Renewable Energy, World Resources Institute

Webinar: MN 2025 Energy Action Plan

October 12, 2016
1:30-3:00 p.m.
View video
View slides

The webinar provided an overview of the 2025 Energy Action Plan, including:

• Minnesota's energy landscape,
• progress on meeting existing energy goals, and
• next steps to prepare for future milestones.

Report drafts

Final report, August 26, 2016
    Infographic
Full report draft, April 25, 2016
Draft report outline, January 22, 2016
Draft report outline, December 7, 2015
Draft report outline, September 22, 2015