State laws on clean energy
Minnesota has a history of taking action to reduce emissions that cause climate change and is making progress toward net-zero emissions, including these policy actions:
2007 Next Generation Energy Act: Set benchmarks in state law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and track emissions. Biennial reports on greenhouse gas emissions are submitted to the Legislature by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Commerce Department. New goals adopted in 2023 aim to reduce emissions 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Governor’s Climate Change Subcabinet and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Climate Change: Established with the 2019 Climate Change Executive Order (19-37). The Climate Subcabinet, in collaboration with partners across the state, established Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework in 2022.
Energy Conservation and Optimization Act: The ECO Act, passed by state lawmakers in 2021, modernized the Conservation Improvement Program, created by the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act. More about the ECO Program at Commerce.
Clean Energy Standard (Zero by 2040): The standard, set in state law in 2023, requires electric utilities to provide net-zero, or 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The Zero by 2040 law is important to help the state reduce greenhouse emissions from the electric grid and to reduce other fossil fuel uses through electrification using clean energy.