Half of Minnesota’s power came from zero-carbon sources in 2019
April 2nd // Source: The Business Council for Sustainable Energy
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Amid extreme uncertainty across the state and nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new information about Minnesota’s clean energy transition is being released that could help inform decision-making about the state’s economic recovery. Minnesota experienced a dramatic 14 percent reduction in its electricity sector carbon emissions last year due to decreased coal usage and greater reliance on renewables and natural gas. New findings in the 2020 Minnesota Energy Factsheet, commissioned by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and released today, also show state imports of electricity last year fell to their lowest level in over two decades as new local wind and solar projects filled the gap. As the clean energy transition speeds up across the nation, the report illustrates the big gains Minnesota has made since 2010 in its own energy transition.
The Minnesota Energy Factsheet is a companion to the 2020 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, compiled by research firm BloombergNEF for the BCSE. The Factbook outlines key trends influencing national and state investment and economics, energy supply, and energy demand. As the American energy sector continues its transformation to cleaner, cheaper sustainable energy, Minnesota remains a leader. Highlights from this year’s Minnesota Factsheet include:
- Nearly HALF of Minnesota’s power came from zero-carbon sources in 2019. Meanwhile, coal’s contribution slipped from 38 percent in 2018 to 32 percent in 2019.
- RENEWABLES have accounted for 84 PERCENT of all new electricity generation capacity added since 2010, totaling 3.4 gigawatts.
- Increased local electricity generation coincided with a sharp decline in harmful carbon emissions. Emissions have fallen 37 percent since 2005 and 27 percent since 2010. From 2018 to 2019 alone, EMISSIONS FELL nearly 14 percent.
- Over the last decade, Minnesota has BOOSTED its energy productivity by 22 percent as power consumption is up 2 percent while state GDP is up 24 percent.
- Major Minnesota-based corporations have increased their efforts to procure renewable energy. 3M Co., Cargill Inc., Ecolab Inc., Target Corp., and General Mills between them have now signed agreements to power their operations with either wind or solar energy from projects representing over 1 GIGAWATT OF CAPACITY.
- Excluding the production tax credit (PTC), new wind builds are cheaper than new combined-cycle natural gas plant builds on a $/MWh basis in Minnesota. With the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC), wind and solar technologies are the CHEAPEST FORM of new electricity generation in the state.
- Between 2018 and 2019, unsubsidized utility-scale wind and subsidized utility-scale solar both experienced a 5 PERCENT DECLINE in price.
- Electric vehicle sales in Minnesota are accelerating as battery prices have fallen. From 2015 to 2019 annual sales of battery electric vehicles ARE UP 8X to 2,600 units. Annual plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales ROSE NEARLY 3X to 1,200 units.
- The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranked MINNESOTA 8th out of all 50 states for its overall energy efficiency programs (the HIGHEST RANKING in the Midwest).
Industry leaders are seeing these trends play out in Minnesota:
“Minnesota’s commitment to a clean energy future has ushered in growth for businesses large and small. As this year’s Factsheet shows, technology innovations and strong policy frameworks are expanding opportunities for energy efficiency and clean energy solutions while dramatically slashing our state’s carbon emissions. Ever-Green Energy is excited to be part of this critical transformation of our energy system,” said Ken Smith, President and CEO of Ever-Green Energy.
“This report shows the significant progress Minnesota is making as we transition to a clean energy economy. As the electricity sector continues to decarbonize, clean energy businesses are on the front lines adding value and creating jobs,” said CEEM Executive Director Gregg Mast. “This report also emphasizes the fact that wind and solar are the cheapest forms of new power generation in the market. This is underscored by the commitments major corporations are making to increase their procurement of renewables. As policymakers identify opportunities to lift up our economy from the destructive impact of COVID-19, energy efficiency and clean energy should be a top-tier priority to help spur economic activity and jobs across our state.
“The data shows that Minnesota is leading the way with an energy transformation that lowers costs and improves efficiency. With renewable costs at parity with other options, and major companies and industries making significant procurement deals in the state, it’s clear that Minnesota will continue to be a national model for cost-effective emission reductions and clean energy investment and jobs. This leadership experience will serve Minnesota well as the economy recovers,” said Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
The 2020 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook is provided in a PDF format (totaling over 100 slides) and is intended to serve as a reference guide of energy statistics throughout the year. The Minnesota Factsheet is a shorter companion resource that can be used as a quick guide. Please see www.bcse.org/factbook for both publications.
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About Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM): CEEM is an industry-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit representing the business case for clean energy in Minnesota. CEEM provides a unified voice for clean energy business across the state. Our mission is to provide educational leadership, collaboration, and policy analysis that accelerates clean energy market growth and smart energy policies. Learn more at cleanenergyeconomymn.org.
About the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE): BCSE is a trade association representing the energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy sectors. It advocates for policies at the state, federal, and international level that promote the deployment of the full portfolio of commercially available clean energy products, technologies and services. Learn more at bcse.org.
About BloombergNEF (BNEF): BNEF is a leading provider of primary research on clean energy, advanced transport, digital industry, innovative materials, and commodities. With a team of experts spread across six continents, BNEF leverages the world’s most sophisticated data sets to create clear perspectives and in-depth forecasts that frame the financial, economic and policy implications of industry-transforming trends and technologies. Available online, on mobile and on the Terminal, BNEF is powered by Bloomberg’s global network of 19,000 employees in 176 locations, reporting 5,000 news stories a day. Learn more at about.bnef.com.
CEEM Contact: Amelia Cerling Hennes // ahennes@cleanenergyeconomymn.org // 507.251.5140
BCSE Contact: Julia Selker // jselker@bcse.org // 541-908-5792
