April 27, 2018 (MINNEAPOLIS) The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey set goals today for Minneapolis to move to 100 percent renewable electricity: for municipal facilities and operations by 2022 and citywide by 2030. These goals serve as a strategy to meet the City’s aggressive greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change goals by moving away from fossil fuels. The resolution responds to overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is a real and existential threat to human civilization and is caused primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels. The City opposes the rollback of climate policy at the federal level and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

“An effective way to make sure that energy remains affordable and that our transition to clean energy meets the needs of those most marginalized and historically impacted by pollution is persistent, intentional community engagement from a wide range of people,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “Resolutions like the one passed today are more than just a statement of values – they’re a roadmap for shifting our systems to better serve all our neighborhoods.”

“Climate change is one of the gravest challenges we face, and renewable energy is one of the solutions,” said Council Member Cam Gordon, co-author of the resolution. “This resolution builds on the work of our adopted Climate Action Plan, and will help us reach our aggressive goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.”

“In addition to being the right thing to do for the planet, investing in renewable energy allows us to keep more energy generation revenue in the city and create jobs for Minneapolis people of color who have been historically excluded from the old energy economy,” said Council Member Steve Fletcher, co-author of the resolution.

“This resolution represents a strong statement of our values and our leadership,” said Council Member Jeremy Schroeder, co-author of the resolution. “Especially as the federal government undermines sustainability, and amid uncertainty at the State Capitol, we as a City need to hold ourselves accountable to building a future that reflects our commitment to a cleaner, greener future for everyone in Minneapolis.”

These commitments came about with advocacy from the Sierra Club and iMatter.

The Sierra Club’s Ready For 100 campaign encourages cities to move to cleaner, cheaper, healthier energy with 100 percent clean, renewable energy for all. Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

The national youth organization, iMatter, is called to befriend and support young people as they collectively step into their authentic voices and power to disrupt the status quo and push local leaders to do what is necessary to end the climate crisis and transition to a just, sustainable society.
Minneapolis joins Atlanta; Boulder, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; Rochester, Minnesota; St. Louis; Saint Louis Park, Minnesota; San Francisco; San Diego; Salt Lake City and other cities in 100 percent renewable energy commitments.
The City of Minneapolis is committed to ensuring that all residents and businesses, no matter their race, income, wealth or credit history, can access and benefit from renewable energy and energy efficiency. Find more information about Minneapolis’ action on climate change in the resolution and the City website.