Goal 4: Clean energy and efficient buildings

**THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS CONCLUDED**

The goal

Electricity that is carbon-free and buildings that are less costly to operate, less polluting, healthier, and more comfortable.

The challenges

While the electricity sector is decarbonizing, challenges remain around adequate transmission and community access to clean energy. In the building sector, there are increasing GHG emissions partly driven by greater heating and cooling demands from climate change.

The vision

Minnesotans statewide benefit from investments in clean energy, lower-emitting technology, and energy efficiency through more jobs, lower energy costs, and a more stable climate.

Priority Actions

Minnesota state agencies have proposed several priority actions to help set us on the path to achieve the vision of building a carbon-neutral, resilient, and equitable future for Minnesota. The priority actions identified for the clean energy and efficient buildings goal are:

• Establish a standard to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity and 55% renewable electricity by 2040.
• Adapt the grid. Promote electrical grid upgrades, greater access to renewable energy and fund research and development to integrate more renewable energy in the grid.
• Expand the use of low carbon heating sources through new policies and implementation of existing policies such as the Energy Conservation Optimization Act and Natural Gas Innovation Act.
• Improve codes and standards for all new commercial and large multi-family buildings to achieve net-zero by 2036.
• Explore creating new markets. Explore policies and strategies to create markets and attract capital to lower GHG emissions.
• Expand the use of low-carbon building materials such as sustainably produced wood, concrete, steel and reused and recycled construction materials.
• Reduce energy use. Boost opportunities and create supports such as incentives, loans and policies for existing homes, businesses, and government, commercial, and educational buildings in order to reduce the energy use and energy burden as well as to improve health through better air quality.

Want to learn more about Minnesota's clean energy and efficient buildings goal?

Read the full chapter on pages 45-51 in the Climate Action Framework document.

We want your feedback!

Use the tools below to share your feedback on Minnesota's clean energy and efficient buildings goal by Friday, April 29th. Survey results and questions will be shared with the Climate Change Subcabinet and Advisory Council on Climate Change as they work towards finalizing the Climate Action Framework. The final Framework will consider public and stakeholder input, analysis, and agency expertise. Click the links on the right side of the page to view Minnesota's other climate goals and share your feedback on rest of Minnesota's Climate Action Framework.