Sierra Club volunteers celebrate outside with resolution author Council Member Gordon
Minneapolis becomes largest Midwestern city to adopt 100% clean energy goal; includes strong commitment to energy equity and justice
On Friday April 27th, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously (once council member was not in attendance) approved the city’s commitment to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy by 2030. Minneapolis now represents the largest city in the Midwest and the 65th city in the country to establish a goal of transitioning entirely to clean, renewable energy.
As part of the city’s commitment to move to 100 percent clean energy, the Minneapolis City Coordinator’s Office will prepare a blueprint by the first quarter of 2019 for how Minneapolis will meet its goal, including the policy and technological strategies for achieving 100 percent clean energy.
Minneapolis’ commitment to 100 percent clean, renewable energy builds on the city’s progress towards ensuring energy equity, expanding renewable resources like solar energy, and advancing environmental justice.
The City Coordinator’s Office blueprint shall also include strategies “to ensure that all consumers, especially those who have been left out of the benefits of energy programs in the past, communities of color, low-income communities, renters, and communities that have borne the brunt of past environmental racism, receive equitable benefit from this transition.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released the following response:
“One effective way to make sure that energy remains affordable and that the transition to clean energy meets the needs of those most marginalized and historically impacted by pollution is persistent and intentional community engagement from a wide range of people. Resolutions like the one we passed today are more than just a statement of values – they’re a roadmap for shifting our systems to serve everyone in our communities."
In addition to today’s commitment, Mayor Frey also today joined the Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative, a growing coalition of nearly 200 mayors nationwide who have announced support for a goal of powering their communities with 100 percent renewable energy such as wind and solar.
“The City of Minneapolis is setting the stage for not only what is possible for Minnesota cities and large customers, but demonstrating the demand that our communities have for clean renewable energy. Moments like this show that it’s time for our utility company, Xcel Energy to not only heed the call for 100% clean energy but to commit to an equally ambitious goal for themselves,” said Sierra Club lead organizer Alexis Boxer.
In response Maxwell Jay-Dixon, Sierra Club Clean Air and Renewable Energy Committee member stated:
"An aggressive and ambitious commitment such as this will not only help us meet our carbon reduction and clean energy goals but will position Minneapolis as a leader in our state and country when it comes to affordable, equitable clean energy and the transition for our communities. Seeing the language in the resolution that not only calls for financial investment but community buy in will help us to meet the needs of all Minneapolitans.”