Shape Public Policy
We promote public policy that increases equity across the solar industry and our energy system.
Our members work at the state Legislature and Public Utilities Commission to advocate for policies that center energy justice and energy democracy and organize communities to support this work.
State Legislature
The 2023 Minnesota legislative session saw the passage of many significant pieces of climate and environmental legislation, crucial steps in setting our state on a path towards a clean economy where our communities can thrive. Our members advocated and organized for many of these bills, including:
Community Solar Access:
The new community solar legislation will reform Minnesota’s community solar program to improve the accessibility of community solar to low-to-moderate income residents, bringing the benefits of solar energy to communities that have been left behind by traditional solar development.
Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA)
This legislation establishes MnCIFA, a public “green bank,” with $45 million in funding. MnCIFA will help communities, families, and businesses throughout Minnesota access funds for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, addressing the barrier of high up-front costs.
Read more about this legislation here
Cumulative Impacts
Cumulative impacts legislation helps address “sacrifice zones” where certain communities, disproportionately BIPOC and low income, bear a disproportionate burden of pollution. This legislation gives these communities in the Twin Cities metro, Duluth, and Rochester areas added protections against polluters.
Read more about this legislation here
100% Clean Energy by 2040
This legislation will require all utilities in the state to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, with intermediate benchmarks of 80% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 90% by 2035. While this law is a major step towards a clean energy economy, our members are working to ensure this transition is implemented equitably.
Read more about this legislation here
Solar for Schools
Our state’s popular Solar for Schools program received an additional $29.3 million in funding for the next two years and expanded access to tribal schools. While we celebrate this investment, our members continue to advocate for reforming the program to allow schools in Greater Minnesota and tribal areas to access the full potential of solar energy.
Read more here
Public Utilities Commission
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the state agency that regulates investor-owned utilities, companies that provide energy to millions of Minnesotans. The PUC makes decisions about energy that directly affect our lives and our environment, such as how much we pay for energy, what sources it comes from, the extent to which communities can benefit from renewable energy and energy savings programs, and more. Through engaging with the PUC’s formal regulatory process and organizing public comments, JSC works to ensure equity and justice are embodied in these decisions.
Xcel Energy Multi-Year Rate Case
Between 2021-2023, four JSC members—MN Interfaith Power & Light, Community Power, Vote Solar, and Cooperative Energy Futures—intervened jointly in Xcel Energy’s multi year rate case, a regulatory process at the PUC that sets electricity prices and directs the utility’s investments. JSC advocated against excessive increases in prices and argued that the PUC must consider energy justice when setting rates and directing a utility’s investments.
Read the story here
Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan
JSC members intervened in Xcel’s last Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a regulatory proceeding that requires utility companies to map out their sources of energy for the next 15 years. Our members joined forces with a coalition of environmental justice and community groups to push for Xcel to include more community-owned distributed energy resources (like rooftop and community solar) in their plans, advocate against investment in fossil fuel plants, and create an equity advisory group to hold Xcel accountable to commitments to equity. Read more about this here.
Read more about this here