ALLETE sustainability report showcases rapid renewables growth

ALLETE Inc. is now the second-largest utility investor in renewable energy in the nation, relative to its size, according to the company’s latest sustainability report.

It has also leaped forward on the going green process in Minnesota, with its subsidiary Minnesota Power delivering 50 percent renewable energy as of last year. It also has plans to deliver 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2050. In fact, Minnesota Power’s total carbon emissions are expected to tumble by more than 50 percent from 2005 to 2021, with other emissions falling as well.

In addition to Minnesota Power, ALLETE business units also include ALLETE Clean Energy, BNI Energy, and Superior Water, Light and Power. At ALLETE Clean Energy, 2020 brought two new wind projects and the beginning of construction on a third. The additions brought the company to a wind portfolio of more than 1,000 MW, and once the third achieves operational status, the figure will go up by another 300 MW.

“ALLETE is putting sustainability into action while honoring our commitment to the climate, our customers, and the communities we serve,” Bethany Owen, ALLETE president and CEO, said. “Our strategy is robust and flexible, designed to reduce transitional and physical risks associated with climate change while advancing the clean-energy economy. ALLETE is well-positioned to enhance and grow our companies by providing sustainable energy solutions to meet changing societal expectations and evolving regulations.”

Beyond clean energy gains, the 2020 sustainability report also covered evolutions in social responsibility and best-practices governance. For example, ALLETE notes that it is actively expanding and partnering with more diverse suppliers in their communities, benefitting minority-, women-, veteran- and LGBT-owned businesses, along with smaller, more economically disadvantaged businesses, among others. The company also now touts the most gender-diverse board among 45 publicly traded North American utilities.