Minnesota Fossil Phaseout by 2040 Legislation

In February, Minnesota’s Legislature approved a bill requiring utilities in the state to provide electricity from 100% carbon-free sources by 2040. The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035. Electricity generated from landfill gas and anaerobic digestion are named as approved renewable energy technologies, but electricity generated from incinerators operating in “environmental justice areas” will not be counted toward the goal. Wind, solar, and certainhydropower and hydrogen energy sources are also considered renewable in the bill.

The bill gives utilities some leniency if they demonstrate to state regulators that they can’t offer affordable power while working toward the benchmarks. It also allows utilities to buy renewable energy credits to meet the standard instead of generating the energy themselves.

At the time of this writing, the bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.