Minnesota Department of Commerce

Sign up today and join the Minnesota Department of Commerce for an update on the Home Energy Rebate Program. Register for the online meeting here: https://lnkd.in/gTFZcPcY

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking qualified candidates to fill the role of Director of Government Affairs. To apply please visit: mn.gov/commerce/careers/

Thanks for inviting Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources Pete Wyckoff to share the story of Minnesota's progress in growing our clean energy economy. For Climate Week, Governor Tim Walz highlighted how that growth is being fueled by Minnesota's nearly $3.5 billion in federal climate-related grants, combined with the state's $1 billion in clean energy investments plus with billions more from community and private investments, with partners and projects reaching every corner of the state. https://lnkd.in/gMeJAm7B

Congratulations to Sabathani Community Center for reaching a major milestone in your community energy project: $6 million in new funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)! This adds to #mnleg $6 million in Renewable Development Account funds. https://lnkd.in/g8MMxuDQ

Great to have international attention for the work of the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, including Brendon Slotterback. Learn more about MNCIFA: https://lnkd.in/gPGsynTA

Today we celebrate the launch of the U.S. Green Bank 50 (GB 50), a partnership of green banks across the US committed to driving investments in clean energy and climate projects that lower energy bills, create jobs, and build a sustainable future for our communities. The Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority is proud to be a founding member of GB 50. We are already having an impact on our communities: See The Heights project with the Saint Paul Port Authority. More about MNCIFA: https://lnkd.in/gPGsynTA More about GB 50: https://lnkd.in/geu8DpW7

Story on CNN by Ella Nilsen and Bill Weir about Sherco Solar highlights the benefits of leveraging existing transmission lines to add more renewable energy to the grid. From the story: For Pete Wyckoff, who serves as the Minnesota Department of Commerce's deputy commissioner of energy resources, the Sherco solar farm represents a chance to produce energy locally. “We’re a good wind and solar state,” Wyckoff said. “Anything we burn that’s fossil fuel, we are importing. We are making the wind and solar electricity here.” #Zeroby2040

Leadership update from the Minnesota Department of Commerce: Commissioner Grace Arnold has appointed Assistant Commissioner Pete Wyckoff to be new Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources. He is ready to lead the division on Day 1. We are also excited to announce the appointment of Melissa Pawlisch to be the next Assistant Commissioner of Federal & State Initiatives for the Division of Energy Resources so that we have a seamless transition of leadership for our energy teams and we keep the focus on implementing clean energy programs and grants passed by the Minnesota Legislature in the past biennium. We are excited for the new leadership to continue the Walz-Flanagan Administration clean energy goals and to meet the moment of the clean energy transition through effective partnerships and collaboration with legislators, labor, industry, utilities and stakeholders. We will keep the focus on maximizing the leveraging of federal clean energy dollars to help us move forward together. https://lnkd.in/gWy76KTw

Governor Tim Walz today highlighted funding from the USDA that will build clean energy for rural communities across Minnesota. The Empowering Rural America Program will allocate $7.3 billion to rural electric cooperatives, including four Minnesota service providers, helping rural Minnesotans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy.   “The expansion of green infrastructure will reduce the impacts of climate change while delivering more affordable electricity for Minnesotans,” said Governor Tim Walz. “The Empowering Rural America Program grant is helping us build resilient communities, ensuring a smooth transition to clean energy while strengthening energy security, keeping electricity costs low, and creating good-paying jobs.” The 16 USDA selectees announced last week encompass about 5 million households across 23 states, representing 20% of the nation’s rural households, farms, businesses and schools and include four Minnesota service providers.  The $7.3 billion in financing, which is estimated to:  > Leverage private investments of more than $29 billion  > Build more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy for rural communities across the country  > Reduce and avoid at least 43.7 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equivalent to removing more than 10 million cars off the road every year   “With this federal funding, Minnesota’s rural electric cooperatives will be able to deliver more affordable, reliable, safer and cleaner energy for our rural communities,” said Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. “This investment benefits all Minnesotans, by building our state’s clean energy economy, creating new jobs and new infrastructure, and transitioning our state to a clean energy future.”  The four electric cooperatives providing service in Minnesota include:  Basin Electric Power Cooperative, with service territory in southwest Minnesota  Dairyland Power Cooperative, with service territory in southeast Minnesota  Great River Energy, with service territory encompassing northeast, central and southern Minnesota  Minnkota Power Cooperative, with service territory in northwest Minnesota https://lnkd.in/gEgmjmFF

Great to have Mark Hastie and the Financial Institutions team at the Minnesota Department of Commerce join Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) as well!