Getting to Green: Minnesota's energy future

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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 a 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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As data center concerns heat up, Rochester company develops solutions to keep them cool
The power demands of data centers for cooling have raised concerns about whether utilities and the electric grid will be able to keep up. LiquidCool offers a different solution: covering computer components with fluid, then circulating it to remove heat.
A U-turn on EVs? Minnesota lawmakers could be headed that direction in session finale
Hybrid and all-electric vehicle drivers might face a higher surcharge on their annual registration as part of a plan to shore up the state’s road and bridge project fund.
Sustainable jet fuel crops get a boost in state funding
Researchers at the University of Minnesota say they’re planning to plant more crops that can be converted to airplane fuel. The state is putting $75,000 toward the research, with a goal of planting a million acres of winter-hardy fuel crops.
Getting to Green: Can Minnesota get to carbon-free energy?
To slow a warming climate, Minnesotans would need to heat homes, travel and power factories without burning fossil fuels. MPR News correspondents Dan Kraker and Kirsti Marohn talk about what the shift to green power could look like under President Donald Trump.
How ‘virtual’ power plants could help Minnesota charge toward a clean energy future
As it gets more expensive and costly to build traditional power plants and electric distribution systems, so-called “virtual power plants” could play an increasingly important role in meeting Minnesota’s clean energy goals.
Could winter-hardy crops fuel airline flights of the future? U of M researchers think it’s possible
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been studying winter oilseed crops that can be turned into sustainable aviation fuel and provide other environmental benefits. Interest in SAF has been on the rise as the airline industry looks to reduce its carbon emissions.
Can Minnesota lawmakers find common ground on energy issues? Some think so
The balance of power remains uncertain, and it’s not clear how climate actions will fare under a divided state government, but some legislators think the two parties may be able to find bipartisan agreement on some energy issues.