Minnesota’s 2025 Energy Action Plan

Transportation

In 2014, Minnesotans spent $11 billion on transportation fuels, the majority of which were imported from out of state. The opportunity to keep transportation fuel dollars in the state and increase the sector’s clean energy footprint is significant. Stakeholders’ strategies focus on electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles.

1. Increase adoption of personal electric vehicles
2. Electrify fleet vehicles
3. Electrify Buses
4. Increase adoption of alternative-fuel heavy-duty vehicles

Energy supply and grid modernization

Electricity generation in Minnesota accounts for 29 percent of total energy use in the state, with 44 percent of the energy used to produce electricity coming from coal. In order to promote local energy resources and keep additional energy dollars in the state, Minnesota can effectively integrate additional clean energy resources onto the grid and establish pricing signals that more accurately capture the cost of electricity generation. Stakeholders’ strategies focus on grid modernization and pricing and tariff structures.

1. Deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
2. Enable smart inverter functionality 
3. Integrate energy storage and demand response 
4. Adopt time-based rates
5. Expand and improve utility green energy options

Efficient buildings and integrated energy systems

Residential and commercial buildings account for two-thirds of the state’s electricity use and more than half of natural gas delivered in Minnesota. Minnesota has demonstrated national leadership and progress toward an energy efficient building stock already. This section focuses on strategies to improve building performance through optional stretch codes, enhanced energy data access, improved behavioral strategies, and advancing integrated energy systems through thermal grids and combined heat and power (CHP) development.

1. Adopt SB2030 as an optional stretch code that can be adopted by local jurisdictions
2. Enhance energy data access 
3. Increase adoption of commercial building energy benchmarking and disclosure programs
4. Improve building operations to capture energy efficiency opportunities
5. Promote behavioral energy efficiency strategies
6. Identify opportunities for thermal energy grids
7. Support combined heat and power (CHP)

Industrial and agricultural processes

Minnesota’s industrial and agricultural sectors contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and account for 34 percent of the state’s energy use. Minnesota has been a national leader in bioenergy development, and industries have made progress toward increased energy productivity. This section focuses on strategies to promote bioenergy and reduce wasted energy and promote a clean energy focus in Minnesota’s industries.

1. Commercialize advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals
2. Capture organic feedstocks through anaerobic digestion 
3. Promote industrial and agricultural efficiency practices 
4. Coordinate and promote the clean energy industry

Local planning and action

Leading local governments and tribal nations in Minnesota are demonstrating that it is possible to make progress toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system at the local level; for example through voluntary participation in challenges around best practices. Understanding that many changes start at the local level, stakeholders identified strategies to advance local energy planning and pursue near-term actions at the local level.

1. Advance local energy planning
2. Pursue near-term actions at the local level 

Energy Landscape

Total Energy Use

• 42 percent of energy inputs in Minnesota were put to use in 2013. More than half of the energy ended up as waste, such as heat that’s vented off power plants or released from vehicle engines. (figure 4, page 21)
• Electricity generation in Minnesota accounts for 29 percent of total energy use in the state, with 44 percent of the energy used to produce electricity coming from coal.  (p. 52)
• In 2013,residential and commercial buildings accounted for 42% of energy use in the Minnesota, followed by industrial and agricultural processes at 34% and transportation at 24%. (fig. 6, p. 22)
• Residential and commercial buildings account for two-thirds of the state’s electricity use and more than half of natural gas delivered in Minnesota.  (p. 68)
• Since 2003,, gross state product has increased by 12%, while overall energy use has remained flat. This means Minnesota’s overall energy intensity (i.e., the energy required to produce one dollar of gross state product) has been declining in the last two decades. (fig. 8, p.24) 
• Minnesota’s per capita energy consumption ranks 18th nationally, despite having the third-coldest winters in the U.S. (p. 23)

Energy Efficiency

Minnesota is on track to meet its energy efficiency standard of 1.5% savings in electricity and natural gas per year.  (p. 8, 28)

Fossil fuels 

• Minnesota has no indigenous fossil fuel reserves.  (p. 17)
• MN imported 72 percent of its energy in 2013. (p. 17)

Renewable Energy

• In 2015, over 21% of electricity generated in Minnesota came from renewable energy sources.  Minnesota is on track to meet its renewable electricity standard for over 25% renewable electricity by 2025. (fig. 3, p.20 and p. 29) 
• Minnesota is not on track to reach the goal of 25% renewable sources for total energy used by 2025.  Strategies in the 2025 Energy Action Plan put Minnesota on a pathway to meet this state goal. (fig ES1, p. 8 and fig. 2, p. 19)  

Transportation

In 2014, Minnesotans spent $11 billion on transportation fuels, the majority of which were imported from out of state. (p. 38)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

While the state’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased slightly from 2012 to 2015, total emissions are expected to exceed the state’s goals for 2015 and 2025 levels. Strategies in the 2025 Energy Action plan help create pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota. (fig. 10, p. 25-26, p. 31)

Presentations

Webinar: Minnesota's 2025 Energy Action Plan

October 12, 2016

• Video (.wmv)
• Slides (.pdf)

Learn about what you can do now to help Minnesota reach and exceed its energy goals.  The webinar provides an overview of the 2025 Energy Action Plan, including:

1. Minnesota’s energy landscape, 
2. progress on meeting existing energy goals, and
3. next steps to prepare for future milestones.

Webinar: Emerging Trends in Utility Green Power Products

October 28, 2015

• Video (.wmv)
• Slides (.pdf)

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, World Resources Institute

Stakeholder Workshop, July 30, 2015

Presentation Slides: Baseline Energy Landscape (.pdf)

Figures & Tables

• Minnesota Energy Use Flow Chart, 2013
• Infographic
• Figure ES1: Highlighted Minnesota clean energy policies and current status (.pdf)
• Fig. 1: Minnesota energy supply by source, 2013 (.png)
• Fig. 2: Renewables as a percent of Minnesota’s total energy supply, 2005-2013 (.png)
• Fig. 3: Minnesota electricity net generation by source, 2005-2015  (.png)
• Fig. 4: Estimated Minnesota energy use in 2013, by source and sector (.png)
• Fig. 5: Total Minnesota energy consumption, 1960-2013 (.png)
• Fig. 6: Minnesota source energy use by sector, 2013 (.png)
• Fig. 7: Minnesota fossil fuel use per capita, 2005-2013 (.png)
• Fig. 8: Minnesota energy intensity, 1997-2013 (.png)
• Fig. 9: Minnesota greenhouse gas emission trends by sector, 2005-2012 (.png)
• Fig. 10: Minnesota forecasted greenhouse gas emissions and state goals (.png)
• Fig. 11: Map of Minnesota utility territories offering community solar (.png)
• Fig. 12: Comparison of well-to-wheel lifecycle GHG emissions by vehicle-type, per mile (.png)
• Fig. 13: Comparison of well-to-wheel lifecycle GHG emissions by transportation fuel type, per megajoule (.png)
• Fig. 14: Total cost of ownership of conventional ICE vehicle versus electric vehicle by annual mileage (.png)
• Fig. 15: AMI adoption by state, 2014 (.png)
• Fig. 16: Selected university, hospital, and municipal thermal energy projects in Minnesota by city, as of January 2016 (.png)
• Fig. 17: Key elements of community energy planning (.png)
• Table 1: Unsubsidized levelized cost of energy (LCOE) comparison, 2015, Lazard 9.0 (.png)
• Table 2: Minnesota renewable electricity standard requirements (.png)
• Table 3: Strategies and cross-sector opportunities (.pdf)
• Table 4: Means of transportation to work, Minnesota 2013, U.S. DOT (.png)