“The rest of the country is paying attention.”

Imagine a world where the energy that lights your home, charges your phone, and prepares your meals comes from clean, renewable sources like wind and sun.

In Minnesota, that future is quickly becoming a reality, according to the Minnesota Reformer.

A new report from Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy shows that in 2023, as much as one-third of Minnesota’s electricity came from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.

When you add nuclear power, which is also pollution-free, the share of the state’s energy coming from zero-carbon sources jumps to an impressive 54% – the highest in the Midwest.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Minnesota sources more than half of its electricity from clean sources. That’s a huge change from just a decade ago, when most of the state’s energy came from polluting coal-fired power plants.

“Minnesota’s clean energy transition is leading the way in the Midwest, and the rest of the country is taking notice,” said Lisa Jacobson, president of the Sustainable Energy Business Council.

“Already supplying the majority of the state’s energy, Minnesota continues to lead the way in clean energy and energy efficiency adoption with significant investments across the state.”

So what does the transition to clean energy mean for Minnesotans?

First of all, this is great news for anyone who pays an electricity bill. Wind and solar power are currently the cheapest energy sources in most of the country, so increasing them helps keep energy affordable.

But more importantly, this transition to clean energy is critical to protecting the health of Minnesota’s communities and landscape. By moving away from dirty pollution, the state prevents millions of tons of pollutants from entering our atmosphere, where it would overheat the planet and create costly climate disruptions.

Minnesota proves that we can power our lives with clean energy while improving the lives of everyday people. Through continued investment and smart policy, the country aims to source 100% of its electricity from zero-emission sources by 2040 – an exciting goal that will help ensure a safer and more sustainable future for all.

“The data released today demonstrates the success of public and private sector collaboration to advance a clean energy economy in Minnesota,” said Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold.

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