Community Power published in the Star Tribune! 

We are at a crossroads…again.

City leaders must negotiate assertively with Xcel and CenterPoint in July and August or risk failure on urgent climate goals before this key window of opportunity closes.

Community Power staff and board members co-wrote an opinion exchange printed in the Star Tribune June 15th, as a publicized some specific guidance on how to make best use of that opportunity: 

“Minneapolis' once-a-decade chance to fight for energy and the climate”

With only blunt and uncertain clean energy financing tools at the federal and state level… How can we quickly and justly resource Climate Action in Minneapolis? For the last decade, Community Power has been exploring this question with many partners across Minneapolis, the state, and the country.

We are pleased to announce that a newly released report outlines innovative funding mechanisms that could dramatically accelerate the city's transition to clean energy which comes at a time as Minneapolis approaches a critical juncture in its fight against climate change. The report, created by the Institute for Market Transformation exploring these very questions titled "Equitable Funding Mechanisms for Climate Action in Minneapolis," comes at a pivotal moment as the city renegotiates its franchise agreements with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy.

See the full 50-page Report: "Equitable Funding Mechanisms for Climate Action in Minneapolis"

Want just the highlights? Check out the See the 4-page Fact Sheet

It's a deep dive into two specific, hyper-local mechanisms to fund just, climate action based on a "Polluter Pays" model.

IMT's report, developed in partnership with the Just Transition Fund Coalition, proposes leveraging two existing tools - to generate over $110 million annually for climate initiatives. 

These include:

1) Utility Franchise Fees and 

2) The "Pollution Control Annual Registration" Fee (PCAR). 

This funding could help close the vast gap between current climate spending and the estimated $136 million needed each year to weatherize and electrify Minneapolis homes.

By tying fees to the carbon intensity of energy sources, the city could incentivize a rapid transition to renewables while generating substantial funding for climate programs. Similarly, expanding PCAR to cover greenhouse gas emissions could hold large polluters accountable while supporting emissions reduction efforts.

Please dig in, tell your friends, and share!

"Despite the mounting evidence of disparities, funding to address climate change remains insufficient across all scales of government. [...] While the Mayor's 2024 budget proposal significantly accelerated the City's investments in weatherization to $4,744,725, the gap between funding available and the estimated $136.5 million/year needed remains vast. [...] In the context of underfunding, urgent timelines, deeply entrenched racialized inequity, and public incentive apparatuses that often frustrate their purpose, Franchise Fees (FF) and Pollution Control Annual Registration (PCAR) present innovative opportunities for addressing the climate challenge swiftly and in ways that are specific to local context and needs."

- IMT Report: Equitable Funding Mechanisms for Climate Action in Minneapolis, 2024

Artwork and design by IMT along with images from Ntxoo Art. 

Artwork and design by IMT along with images from Ntxoo Art. 

Successful Energy Democracy and Zero Waste outcomes from the 2024 legislative session. Click the link below for a list! 

Community Power has participated as part of the CLEAR coalition lobbying for energy democracy legislation this year. See the press release from CLEAR.

The story was also covered in the Star Tribune: DFL resolves division on permitting and community solar credits in energy legislation Despite late-session negotiations, energy legislation passed without any major upheaval. By Walker Orenstein Star Tribune May 20, 2024

Because the Climate Legacy Initiative passed by the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor unanimously in 2023, the City is finally funding local climate action at a scale needed to build momentum toward meeting the ambitious goals the city has on paper. This means it is time for a revived nudge to city leaders to make sure renters can be included in its benefits. Community Power has long been bringing attention to making energy efficiency programs more accessible to renters since we held listening sessions back in 2015 with the Corcoran Neighborhood organization from which the following policy ideas were developed. 

Following the Policy Ideas for the City to adopt there are a few points to ground them in:

1) Energy efficiency is a big livability and affordability issue for renters.

2) InquilinXs UnidXs recently has had an incredible win with properties involved in AG Ellison's lawsuit

3) Inclusive Financing for Energy Efficiency could remove the upfront cost and credit barriers if it is given a chance

In addition to TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase) a top policy recommendation is Prohibiting Rationed Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) at single-metered rental properties:

The city of Minneapolis should consider Prohibiting Rationed Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) at single-metered rental properties by amending Minneapolis ordinance 244.270 liability for utility service payments so that the landlord may only pass on the utility costs at single-metered buildings by including it into the rent or installing sub-meters so that the energy bills for each tenant reflects their usage. In Chapter 244.270, (the section listed for liability for rationed utility billing systems at single-metered rental properties), there have been no changes to this section of municipal code since the listening sessions in 2017. 

We are pleased to share that a St. Paul Green New Deal Resolution has been drafted by Sunrise Twin Cities and shared with city councilmembers. 

Sunrise TC, the local hub for a national youth climate justice movement, has also been reaching out to organizations including Community Power.    

Here is the full text of the resolution as well as the cliff notes version / outline of the resolution.    

Because the text of the Green New Deal resolution is so thorough in policy ideas, as well as in its general vision for climate justice in Saint Paul, advancing the resolution would help the city in updating its Climate Action and Resilience Plan, due later this year.