Recent News

Time & Location

4-6 PM
330 2nd Ave S Building, Training Center (1st Floor)
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Meeting Materials

Agenda
Draft Q3 EVAC Notes
2017-2018 Work Plan Survey Results
EVAC 2017-2018 Work Plan Recommendations

On Monday, October 24, the Clean Energy Partnership Board voted unanimously to appoint 15 members to the Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC). The Board appointed the members after considering a recommendation from the Planning Team.

Interest in serving on EVAC remained strong among Minneapolis residents and organizations. Over 30 applications were received, including 10 from 2015-2016 EVAC members. Applications came from 10 City wards, and three applications came from individuals who live outside of the city but do business in the city. The diversity of viewpoints represented in the applicant pool was impressive, including energy system experts, advocacy organizations, seniors, architects, academia, and many more.

EVAC is charged by the Board with reviewing and providing feedback on the Clean Energy Partnership’s biennial work plan and measurement and performance reports; providing feedback on special initiatives as requested by the Board; and communicating to members’ respective constituencies about EVAC and Board decisions and activities.  The work of EVAC is critical to the success of the Clean Energy Partnership.

2017-2018 EVAC membership

Louis Alemayehu

Cameran Bailey

Timothy DenHerder-Thomas

Trevor Drake

John Farrell

Abby Finis

Timothy Gaetz

Matt Kazinka

Kevin Lewis

Patty O’Keefe

Rebecca Olson

Julia Silvis

Jamez Staples

Shane Stennes

William Weber

The next Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC) meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 4 pm to 6 pm at a too be confirmed location.  Materials for the meeting will be available on the CEP website soon.

The next meeting of the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership Board will take place on Friday, November 4, 2016, from 1 pm to 3 pm at Xcel Energy (Old Building), 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.  Please arrive early and bring a photo ID for security.  Materials for the meeting will be available on the CEP website soon.

Looking for experts and representatives in wide range of communities and energy-related fields

The Clean Energy Partnership is now accepting applications from the public to serve on the 2017-2018 Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC). This committee plays a critical role in shaping the partnership’s work plan to help Minneapolis achieve clean energy goals, including reducing greenhouse gases, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy, and making energy more affordable and reliable for everyone. EVAC members provide feedback on the partnership’s work plan and performance reports, and provide expertise or represent their Minneapolis communities.

A diverse committee is being sought that includes members from critical communities within the city. Viewpoints that could be reflected by committee members include:

• Affordability advocacy.
• Business interests – small and large.
• Clean energy.
• Community organizations.
• Economic development.
• Energy efficiency.
• Energy systems.
• Environmental justice.
• Green buildings.
• Labor and industry.
• Property management.
• Renewable energy.
• Rental housing.
• Public buildings.
• Students and academia.

The Clean Energy Partnership is a first-of-its-kind City-utility collaboration that includes the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. The partnership is led by a joint City/utility board that reviews and approves work plans focused on helping the City achieve its energy goals. The board collects community feedback through the Energy Vision Advisory Committee to aid in its decision-making.

Please return completed applications by 4:00pm 9/12 to sustainability@minneapolismn.gov or mail to Minneapolis Sustainability, Room M 301, 350 S. 5^th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1382

More information:

• 2017-2018 Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC) application.
• Potential EVAC members.

 

At its June 3, 2016 meeting the Clean Energy Partnership Board released the inaugural Clean Energy Partnership Annual Report on its groundbreaking clean energy initiative. The report highlights the group’s efforts in creating the partnership structure, establishing the first two-year work plan and adopting baseline metrics measuring progress in the partnership’s first year. It also creates a more complete picture of the city’s greenhouse gas profile related to buildings and energy production, consumption and savings opportunities. Measurable results will be documented and reported annually.

First year highlights

• The first year focused on creating the Energy Vision Advisory Committee, establishing partnership procedure and structure, developing a work plan and putting metrics into place. The partnership also began some coordinated outreach promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy options for Minneapolis businesses and residents.
• In 2015 Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy spent more than $1 million combined to help low-income customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes and leveraged nearly $1 million more in federal support for residential weatherization programs. In addition the City of Minneapolis bought down the cost of Home Energy Squad visits to income-qualified residents. Home Energy Squad assesses a home’s energy efficiency, makes some energy efficiency improvements and makes custom recommendations for more intensive energy efficiency improvements.
• There were 40 percent more rooftop solar installations in the city in 2015 than 2014 (92 in 2015 compared to 56 in 2014).
• The partnership began working together on energy efficiency program innovations in single family and multi-family housing.
• The partnership worked together to promote Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy’s joint Home Energy Squad, visits to customers’ homes to improve their energy efficiency. The promotions resulted in a 68 percent increase in visits from 2014 to 2015 (1,198 visits in 2015 compared to 731 in 2014).

Actions of the Clean Energy Partnership are outlined in the first two-year work plan.

The partnership has been recognized nationally as an innovative model between cities and utilities. The American Council for Energy Efficient Economy ranked Minneapolis No. 7 for most energy efficient U.S. cities and one of the most improved. The White House recognized Minneapolis as one of 16 Climate Action Champion communities citing its Climate Action Plan and partnership with the two utilities, Xcel Energy and Center Point Energy.

This first-of-its-kind City-utility partnership, the Clean Energy Partnership began in 2015 and has the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy collaborating in new ways to help Minneapolis achieve clean energy goals in the City’s 2013 Climate Action Plan and Energy Vision for 2040. The partnership helps utility customers reach their energy conservation goals as the City works to achieve 80 percent greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2050.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership a 2016 Climate Leadership Award winner in the Innovative Partnerships category for addressing climate change. The EPA, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry are honoring 13 organizations, three partnerships and one individual in the fifth annual Climate Leadership Awards. Recipients have demonstrated leadership and dedication in reducing the pollution that contributes to climate change. The Innovative Partnerships certificate recognizes organizations working collaboratively on leading-edge climate initiatives.

This first-of-its-kind City-utility partnership, the Clean Energy Partnership began in 2015 and has the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy collaborating in new ways to help Minneapolis achieve clean energy goals in the City’s 2013 Climate Action Plan and Energy Vision for 2040. The utilities are using the partnership to help customers achieve their energy conservation goals.

Key actions of the Clean Energy Partnership are outlined in the first two-year work plan within the planned 10 year partnership.

• Helping 75 percent of Minneapolis homeowners, renters and rental properties participate in efficiency retrofit programs by 2025, ensuring the distribution of participants reflects the distribution of income levels in the city.
• Implementing the Building Energy Disclosure policy for medium and large commercial buildings.
• Promoting the adoption of renewable energy solutions for Minneapolis customers, such as onsite solar, wind, community solar gardens and green tariffs.
• Investigating the feasibility of large-scale renewable energy purchasing for municipal government and/or residents.
• Continuing to shift to LED streetlights.

Partnerships recognized by the award have established objectives to measurably address greenhouse gas reduction goals and/or adaptation and resilience activities. Measurable results will be documented and reported annually following the development of metrics.

Find more information about the 2016 Climate Leadership Award here.

The Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC) of the Clean Energy Partnership will meet for the Quarter 1 2016 meeting on February 16 from 6-8pm in City Hall, room 319. One of the main agenda items is to discuss a community engagement framework that a working group of EVAC has been laboring over for the last several months. Meeting agenda and materials will be posted on the Meeting Information page as soon as they are available.