Where our energy comes from
In Minneapolis, there are rules about how energy companies work. The Public Utilites Commission and Department of Energy make these rules.
In our city, electricity comes from Xcel Energy and fossil gas comes from Center Point Energy. The City makes special agreements with these companies, called franchise agreements. These agreements help decide how the companies work in our city. We also collect money from franchise agreements, which helps pay for climate projects and programs.
Some buildings in Minneapolis share energy systems, called district and campus energy systems. They heat, cool, and provide electricity to groups of buildings. Downtown, we have a system that connects buildings to generating plants. District energy systems are not regulated the same as electricity and gas companies. This gives us more flexibility in collaborating with them toward our climate goals.
Climate impact
Electricity and fossil gas use in the city make up 70% of our total emissions. Almost all our emission reductions since 2006 are from cleaner electricity. This means using fewer coal plants and more solar and wind energy.
In 2021:
- A third of our electricity came from renewable sources.
- 60% came from carbon-free sources, including renewable and nuclear energy.
When the utilities provide cleaner energy, we get closer to reaching our climate goals.
Equity impact
We all pay for energy infrastructure, through our energy bills. Low-income communities feel this burden the most. As the utilities provide cleaner energy, energy users share this cost of change. We need to consider whom should bear what costs.