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Energy efficiency

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Under-resourced communities in Minnesota soon will receive a jolt of financial support for energy efficiency, thanks to newly passed legislation to help the state achieve its decarbonization goals equitably.

This month, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, known as ECO, after years of bipartisan negotiations. The bill is part of Gov. Tim Walz’s plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity by 2040, and he is expected to sign it.

The legislation updates the state’s consumer-friendly energy efficiency policy, including increased utility spending on programs serving under-resourced households and fuel switching incentives for investor-owned utilities and co-ops.

To learn more, read this synopsis from Fresh Energy, a clean-energy advocate and Joyce grantee that helped shape the bill.

About The Joyce Foundation

Joyce is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.

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