Getting to Green: Minnesota's energy future

A banner reads: Getting to green: Minnesota's energy future

Minnesota officials have set an ambitious goal for the state to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Getting there will require generating our electricity from clean sources such as wind and solar, and electrifying vehicles, homes, office buildings, factories and farms that currently rely on fossil fuels.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future is an MPR News series digging deep into stories of the clean energy transition — and the opportunities and obstacles to reach that milestone.

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a finger points a thermostat

Xcel Energy hopes charging more for electricity during peak hours will encourage customers to shift energy use

April 10, 2024 4:00 AM

By Kirsti Marohn

Utilities are turning to so-called “time-of-use” rates to encourage customers to shift some of their energy use away from periods of high demand, when producing and delivering energy is more expensive and often, more polluting.

A cable runs into a white van's charging port

Minnesota electric vehicle rebates coming to qualified car buyers starting in April

March 27, 2024 11:45 AM

By Mark Zdechlik

Most of the money in a Minnesota electric vehicle rebate program has been claimed and checks will start going out in late April.

a large power generation plant with two smokestacks

Climate solution or pipe dream? Carbon capture and coal power plants

March 13, 2024 4:00 AM

By Dan Gunderson

An electric cooperative that serves customers in Minnesota and North Dakota wants to build one of the worlds largest carbon capture facilities. Skeptics doubt Project Tundra will work, but the Biden administration has thrown its support behind the nearly $2 billion project.

An aerial view of cows grazing

Minnesota’s energy future

August 7, 2023 4:47 PM

By MPR News Staff

Minnesota aims to be carbon-free by 2050. Here’s a look at what needs to happen until then.

Two people stand next to two large condenser units

Transforming a 1909 St. Paul house into an all-electric green home for the future

February 18, 2024 8:00 AM

A St. Paul couple transformed their century-old home into an all-electric green home for the future, showing the way for other homeowners to help reduce the amount of carbon emissions Minnesotans generate in their homes.

A buffalo statue sits in front of the Wind turbine

Wind and solar energy producers frustrated by connection delays, congestion in power grid

February 7, 2024 4:00 AM

Across Minnesota, solar and wind companies are building new facilities to generate green energy. However, many are frustrated by long delays in getting connected to the power grid, and then when they do, many find they cannot operate at full capacity because the grid cannot handle it.

a car plugged in to a charging cord

Minnesota's electric vehicle rebate program opens Wednesday. Here's what you need to know.

February 6, 2024 12:00 PM

By Kirsti Marohn

EV buyers could receive up to $2,500 back for a new vehicle or up to $600 for a used one. The rebates are expected to go quickly.

a fence next to a snow drift

Solar fence stops snow and generates electricity

February 2, 2024 4:00 AM

By Dan Gunderson

Minnesota uses miles of snow fences to catch blowing snow before it drifts onto roadways in a typical winter. At a one-of-a-kind test site near Moorhead, researchers are finding a year-round use for the snow fence.

Nuclear Generating Plant is seen

Xcel Energy proposes to keep operating nuclear plants until early 2050s

February 1, 2024 6:20 PM

By Kirsti Marohn

The utility’s latest resource plan also calls for adding solar and wind energy, battery storage and building two new natural gas plants for times of peak electricity demand.

a man stands beside a school bus

Minnesota schools testing electric buses find benefits and barriers

January 30, 2024 4:00 AM

By Dan Gunderson

A handful of Minnesota school districts are experimenting with electric buses. Early adopters find a lot to like about the clean running, quiet vehicles — but there are key barriers to wider adoption of the technology.