Electrical Energy

Staff contact: Annie Levenson-Falk (alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072)

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What are the key characteristics of Minnesota's electrical system, and what policy and institutional changes are necessary to ensure these characteristics in the long term?

With the participation and encouragement of leaders in many organizations, the Citizens League will serve as neutral convener, bringing together Minnesotans from businesses, electrical companies, environmental organizations, and unaffiliated citizens to:

  • Come to agreement on what the state's electrical system must achieve in the long term (as well as potentially identify areas of disagreement).
  • Identify changes necessary to achieve these goals.
  • Advance reforms in government, electrical producers, business, and/or other institutions.
  • Lay the foundation for all of this by building agreements among participants from all sectors and political backgrounds.

Policy Focus (Phase 2): What long-term, system-level policy changes would promote electrical efficiency?

The US electrical system is over 60% inefficient -- meaning the majority of the energy that's put into the system at the beginning are wasted in the process of generating, transmitting and distributing, and using the electricity.

In the first phase of this project, Minnesotans agreed on a vision of an ideal electrical system that is affordable, sustainable and reliable -- and achieves these goals by being efficient. The Citizens League is now convening citizens to recommend changes in law or within institutions that will help the state build this ideal.

How to authentically and effectively motivate efficiency is a question that no state in the country has answered. Minnesota has a history of leading on electricity policy, and with this work will continue to do so. In the process, we should provide stability for Minnesota businesses and help position our companies, too, to be national leaders on energy.

Policy development in this phase is being accompanied by a deeper research component led in conjunction with Eutectics Consulting and the MN Chamber of Commerce, and conducted by graduate students at the University of Minnesota's Common Grounds program.

Phase 2 is guided by an advisory committee, including: Ellen Anderson (Senior Advisor to Governor Dayton), Bill Black (MN Municipal Utilities Association), Jessica Burdette (MN Dept. of Commerce - Division of Energy Resources), Rick Evans (Xcel Energy), Ben Gerber (MN Chamber of Commerce), Mike Gregorson (Great Plains Institute), Jeremy Kalin (Eutectics Consulting), Joel Johnson (MN Rural Electric Association), Nancy Lange (Center for Energy and Environment), Jerome Malmquist (University of MN - Energy Management), Ken Smith (District Energy St. Paul).

Thanks to the sponsors of Phase 2 of this project: University of Minnesota - Energy Management, District Energy St. Paul, Xcel Energy, and Target.

Building the Project

This project has developed over multiple phases with the time and resources of many Minnesotans. Learn about Phase 1 -- defining Minnesota's ideal electrical system -- and the series of workshops that have helped shape the project here.

Resources

For more information about the project or to find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact Policy Manager Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk@citizensleague.org or 651-289-1072.