Business Council for Sustainable Energy releases 2018 Minnesota State Energy Factsheet

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) recently released its 2018 Minnesota State Energy Factsheet, which finds that clean energy accounts for 25 percent of electricity generation in Minnesota.

Wind provides 18 percent of electricity generation in the state, according to the report. These findings confirm that Minnesota is on track to meet the state’s Renewable Energy Standard seven years ahead of schedule, BCSE said.

In 2017, annual solar capacity additions surpassed those for wind in Minnesota. The state added approximately 245 megawatts (MW) of new community solar additions last year, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Minnesota added a total of 600 MW of renewable capacity in 2017.

Business and industry leaders and state policy experts gathered last week to discuss the findings last week. BCSE, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM), Greater MSP, the McKnight Foundation, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and the Science Museum of Minnesota partnered to discuss the Factsheet findings with businesses impacted by clean energy growth.

“The contributions of sustainable energy to Minnesota’s economic competitiveness are direct, dramatic and dynamic,” BCSE President Lisa Jacobson said. “We examine sustainable energy trends across the country — and Minnesota is a clear stand out. The trend lines in the 2018 Factbook are clear: sustainable energy is benefiting Minnesota consumers, businesses and manufacturers. And that adds up to one conclusion: clean energy delivers for Minnesota.”

Research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) compiled the report for BCSE.