Minnesota Senate passes bill for 100% clean energy

By a vote of 34 to 33, the Minnesota State Senate passed a bill on Thursday that requires the state’s electric utilities to get all of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2040. This happened the same day Environment America and its state groups, some of the driving forces behind similar bills in California, Maine and New Mexico, relaunched their 100% renewables campaign in several states, including Minnesota.

If Gov. Tim Walz signs HF7/SF4 into law, utilities will need to increase the amount of their electricity that’s generated from renewable energy sources — such as wind or solar— to 55% by 2035. The legislation also mandates that public utilities get 80% of their power from zero-carbon sources by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. 

The legislation cleared the Minnesota House last week. With the governor’s signature, Minnesota will join 10 other states with commitments to 100% clean or renewable energy.

“Minnesota is joining the ranks of states who are leading the charge toward a future powered entirely by clean, renewable energy,” said Johanna Neumann, senior director of Environment America’s Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy.