Clean Energy Economy Minnesota

State policy analysis:ceem, working alongside its business members, built upon the historic and unprecedented 2023 minnesota legislative session for climate and energy policy with significant policy wins and forward progress in 2024. Heading into the 2024 legislative session, ceem's four priority policy objectives were 1.) advance smart implementation 2.) permitting reform 3.) expand transmission and 4.) support increased and timely interconnection. Clean energy permitting reform was one of the most substantial energy and economic development policies passed in the 2024 legislative session. Permitting reform is essential to minnesota's law of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Ceem played a crucial role in educating policymakers resulting in the passage of the energy infrastructure permitting act that streamlines the permitting process for large-scale energy projects at the minnesota public utilities commission (puc). This legislation reduces bureaucratic redundancies and improves efficiencies, facilitating the timely development of wind, solar, and battery storage projects. These reforms are vital for overcoming the largest roadblock to renewable energy deployment, demonstrating minnesota's commitment to embracing the clean energy transition and unlocking its full potential. Another policy win for the organization relieves grid congestion and requires utilities to evaluate grid enhancing technologies (gets) on highly congested lines. Gets include dynamic line rating, power-flow control devices, and analytical tools that reduce the need for new infrastructure and support the integration of renewables and maximize the grid's current capacity. Another essential piece of energy infrastructure completed in this session with ceem's education efforts included allowing the co-location of utility and high-voltage transmission infrastructure in existing transportation corridors, like highways and interstates, to speed development that is critical for the clean energy transition. Additional policies that ceem led and/or supported that were passed into law included updates to commercial property assessed clean energy (c-pace), interconnection reforms for distributed generation, updates to streamline the implementation of minnesota's energy conservation and optimization act (eco), an additional $50 million in funding for solar*rewards over the next ten years, along with workforce development and geothermal legislation to expand markets and support deployment. The organization's two annual reports, the 2024 minnesota energy factsheet and the 2024 clean jobs midwest - minnesota report contained timely and detailed information on clean energy markets and jobs that were utilized by the walz-flanagan administration, policymakers, media, and the public. Data and recommendations contained in the publications provided crucial facts and information utilized in conversations and presentations with policymakers, decision-makers, and the public to hasten the transition to a low- and zero-carbon future in minnesota.

Public education:ceem continued its important efforts in educating decision makers and minnesota citizens on the need for swift buildout and expansion of transmission capacity in miso north. Efforts included a video that explains the need for transmission upgrades using layperson language. Ceem also leveraged its credible and influential business voice in meetings with key officials, regulators, and their staff members throughout the year along with placement and garnering of earned media including op-ed's and lte's sharing real-world examples of local economic benefits and jobs while highlighting the importance of accelerated siting and transmission of clean energy projects that advance rural economic development and diversify local tax bases. Ceem also led the development and delivery of the 8th annual clean energy business day at the capitol. Ceem's efforts helped to result in governor walz declaring april 11, 2024, as "clean energy business day" across minnesota. Over 160 business leaders participated in this powerful day of education at the state capitol to share with policymakers why stable and predictable policies are critical to retaining and growing good-paying jobs and attracting investment in the clean energy industry to ensure and strengthen minnesota's clean energy leadership.

Stakeholder convening:ceem convened and participated in a series of educational, networking, and subject matter expert events throughout 2024. This included programs focused on investment tax credits and transferability as part of the inflation reduction act, how clean energy is delivering positive change in local and tribal communities throughout the state and for emerging farmers, as well as expert in-person and virtual webinars to discuss strategies to retain and grow a diverse workforce. The organization also co-hosted a community conversation event featuring reuters correspondent and author, ernest scheyder who wrote "the war below" that is a new book revealing the tensions among industry, conservationists, community groups, and policymakers over the need to source vast quantities of critical minerals to power a greener future while still protecting our most sacred spaces. Over 100+ event participants heard diverse perspectives that were represented in the expert panel discussion including industry, tribal nations, and two legislative representatives providing both sides of the political aisle. Ceem also participated in the electroposium 2.0 event held at the university of minnesota along with a number of local community and regional-based dialogues including the rochester entrepreneurial landscape event and climate change and small cities conference to discuss key economic, business, and workforce trends along with exploring solutions that empower small cities to lead the way in economic development through climate action. The organization continued its strong partnership with the minnesota trade office hosting a number of convenings with international colleagues and guests looking for opportunities to do business in minnesota. Business and policymaker delegations that ceem hosted included colleagues from a number of canadian provinces, finland, germany, and the united kingdom. Ceem also hosted its annual legislative preview event that included over 130+ attendees in-person as well as 100+ online participants featuring special guests, minnesota energy legislative committee chairs patty acomb, chris swedzinski, and nick frentz with special remarks delivered by asst. Commissioner hali kolkind from the minnesota department of commerce. Insights and stakeholder discussion focused on pathways to achieving 100% clean energy by 2040 and net-zero economy-wide by 2050 in a divided minnesota legislature.