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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A year in, landmark U.S. climate policy drives energy transition but hurdles remain
One year ago, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, directing hundreds of billions of dollars to speed the transition away from fossil fuels.
Making sure Minnesota gets its share of green energy money
As part of our “Getting to Green” series, the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Pete Wyckoff talks about the amount of federal funding available to accelerate the transition to a clean economy, and his role in making sure Minnesota gets its share of the money
The challenge, and opportunity, of 'getting to green' in Minnesota
While many people are in favor of moving towards a so-called green economy through reducing our dependence on climate change causing fossil fuels, the realities of making that move are complex. Margaret Cherne-Hendrick who works for Fresh Energy, a St. Paul-based clean energy nonprofit, says the transition offers challenges and opportunities.
Minnesota’s ambitious EV dreams still need a charge
Minnesota’s clean energy push includes an ambitious goal to have electric vehicles be 20 percent of all light-duty vehicles on the road by 2030. However, getting there means building thousands of electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
Listening to the birds and the bees to make solar farms more biofriendly
As the U.S. makes the transition towards greener energy production, one thorny issue is the millions of acres needed for solar farms. This will involve farm fields and other lands. At three sites in Minnesota, research is underway to find ways of serving both the needs of energy and nature.
Growing power line needs generate new friction in Minnesota’s clean energy shift
Moving solar and wind energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed means a major buildout of new transmission lines, but the projects often face pushback from landowners concerned about aesthetics, health and the environment.
How could Minnesota become carbon-free? New MPR News series dives in
On Tuesday mornings, our reporters will be exploring the opportunities — but also the challenges — the state faces as it moves away from fossil fuels and toward more climate-friendly energy sources.
Company building solar panels on the Iron Range plans to expand to the Twin Cities
A Canadian company operating one of the largest solar panel manufacturing plants in the country on Minnesota’s Iron Range plans to spend about $145 million to open another facility in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota nickel mine brings environmental promise, but also concerns
Talon Metals is expected to soon submit plans to build an underground nickel mine outside the town of Tamarack, Minn., with the goal of supplying metals to build electric vehicle batteries. But skepticism over whether the company can mine safely persists.