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 a MPR News series digging deep into stories of the clean energy transition — and the opportunities and obstacles to reach that milestone.

Have a question or story idea? Let us know with this form.

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.
Monticello nuclear plant gets federal approval to keep operating until 2050
Xcel Energy has said continuing to operate its two Minnesota nuclear plants, at Prairie Island and Monticello, is critical to its transition to carbon-free electricity. But some critics have raised safety concerns about the aging plant.
Huge investment in new Midwest powerlines, including electricity ‘superhighway,’ gets approval
Electric utilities and clean energy advocates say the new transmission lines and substations will help deliver renewable energy to where it’s needed, meet the growing demand for electricity and make the grid more reliable.
Data centers spark opposition from residents, concerns over energy use
Tract, a development company based in Colorado, is proposing to build the $5 billion project for an undisclosed company, one of several data centers under construction or planned in Minnesota.
Innovative Iron Range landfill project tackles climate change, ‘forever chemicals’
A new project at a small landfill on Minnesota’s Iron Range is simultaneously helping to tackle two of society’s most vexing environmental problems — climate change and the treatment of so-called “forever chemicals.”
Will Trump’s election slow the shift to clean energy? Two policy experts weigh in
Last week’s election could have major impacts on U.S. efforts to shift to cleaner energy and curb climate change. President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax, and pledged support for fossil fuels. He’s also promised to roll back many of the climate initiatives launched under the Biden-Harris administration.
Latest Catan board game adds new challenge: produce power without over-polluting
As players build settlements, they can choose renewable energy or fossil fuels. The company behind Catan: New Energies hopes the abstract game can spark real conversations about energy use.
How biochar — the ‘Swiss Army knife of climate tools’ — is growing in Minnesota
Minnesota is emerging as a leader in the research and manufacturing of biochar, a substance that can combat climate change by locking away carbon for centuries. It can also provide other environmental benefits such as filtering water and improving soil.