Fresh Energy
October 11, 2023
Amount Requested$10,000.00
408 Saint Peter Street Suite 350
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102-1125
Julia Olmstead
Executive Lead, Philanthropy
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- Carbon Reduction/Clean Energy
General Operating
Fresh Energy’s mission is to shape and drive bold policy solutions to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies. Together we are working toward a vision of a just, prosperous, and resilient future powered by a shared commitment to a carbon-neutral economy.
$10,000.00
$522,725.00
$7,063,388.00
Yes
Fresh Energy requests support for our work to transition Minnesota’s transportation sector away from fossil fuels and onto carbon-free electricity and/or low- or zero-carbon fuels, in service of advancing Fresh Energy’s strategic imperative to create a carbon neutral economy through high-impact integrated solutions. Specifically, we request general operating support to resource Fresh Energy’s Transportation department and its staffers as they continue to shape and drive the focus and priorities of Fresh Energy’s work in advancing innovative, high-leverage opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and spur an equitable energy transition across Minnesota’s transportation sector. Fresh Energy’s Transportation department advances our advocacy in two main areas. First, in assessing, selecting, and advancing the changes to transportation sector regulatory and policy structures needed to meet Minnesota's greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals. Second, in spurring innovative market transformation to equitably transition energy systems in Minnesota’s transportation sector.
This work remains crucially important as the transportation sector is still the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota. We anticipate an unprecedented influx of state and federal transportation funding that we must seize the opportunity to capitalize on to meet the climate challenge. Widescale vehicle electrification is crucial for reducing carbon emissions in Minnesota. Making the case for the economic benefits from vehicle electrification and its role in ensuring that Minnesota remains on the cutting edge for emerging economic innovation and opportunity can help reinforce adoption efforts and buttress federal, state, and local policy initiatives. Engaging on emerging issues around how best to decarbonize heavy-duty, long-haul transportation like aviation and marine are also areas that Fresh Energy is starting to tackle. In these instances where low and zero-carbon fuels may play a role in decarbonization, Fresh Energy is shaping the narrative on best practices by leading with a data-driven approach that protects against false solutions.
Minnesotans
Minnesota and the Midwest
Build on our Clean Cars Minnesota win by strategically setting the stage, planting the message, building relationships, and shaping/driving the narrative for another landscape-level clean transportation policy, such as passage of a state-based Clean Transportation Standard or initiation of a state-agency led rulemaking process for Advanced Clean Cars 2 or 100% Clean Fleets.
Drive consumer interest and demand to create and build new markets for electric cars and buses, while also incentivizing the growth of Minnesota-based clean transportation jobs, manufacturing, and economic development/market transformation.
In electric vehicle (EV)-related regulatory filings, drive the next phase of utility leadership in EV deployment including incentives, charging infrastructure, and rate design that incentivizes charging that strengthens the grid and reduces costs for consumers, with a focus on preparing for medium/heavy duty EVs and strategic engagement with consumer-owned utilities.
Fresh Energy advances its policy goals through activities in four major arenas:
Statewide and grid-wide work - Fresh Energy shapes and drives major state policy initiatives including large collaborative legislative efforts and other strategically targeted bills, administrative action, and state agency decision making.
Utility planning and action - Fresh Energy's content experts lead data-rich, strategic action on resource plans, rate cases, stand-alone dockets, and implementation of carbon-related plans and policies at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Partnerships and coalition building - Fresh Energy works with community and equity-focused groups, businesses, colleague organizations, local governments, and state and federal agencies to build power and momentum that advances progress toward carbon reduction in multiple ways. From community-based climate action plans to decarbonization work by large corporations to implementing the massive federal clean energy investments, change is taking place in new sectors and Fresh Energy is committed to knitting this work together into a broader push for clean energy.
Communications and market transformation - Fresh Energy recognizes that “winning hearts and minds” will be necessary to achieve solutions. Providing education, opportunities for public engagement, and strategic efforts to transform markets and plant the seed of consumer behavior change are key priorities.
Across our programmatic work we strategically steer our efforts toward the highest levers, using our content expertise to research and actualize optimal policy opportunities, providing education and communication, providing top-quality nonpartisan 501(c)(3) appropriate public affairs expertise, and actively coordinating with stakeholders to ensure we are pulling together to achieve the most bold and ambitious results possible.
Fresh Energy uses a robust program evaluation system with biannual assessments of progress on near-term targets and longer-term goals. For the work described in this proposal, Fresh Energy will know it has been successful if we achieve:
1) Growth in the deployment of public and private charging stations as well as EVs on the road, especially in underserved communities that experience high pollution burden.
2) Growth in economic opportunities, jobs, and local tax revenue associated with Minnesota-based clean transportation market development.
3) Development of a 2025 campaign centered around passage of a landscape-level clean transportation policy.
4) Deployment of state and federal funding opportunities to achieve the greatest carbon emissions reduction potential and increase access to electric vehicle technology and the clean transportation economy ($7.8B in state funds via the 2023 Minnesota transportation bill; $68B in federal funds via the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program with equal state matching funds).
5) Robust strategic planning for Fresh Energy’s next five years of work (2025-2030) that includes clean transportation as a keystone priority.
6) Full staffing of the Clean Transportation Department with a Managing Director and Senior Policy Associate.
10/01/2023
09/30/2024
Fresh Energy is a steering committee member of the Coalition for Clean Transportation (CCT). CCT is a working group of clean energy and climate advocates that have been collaborating since 2017 to reduce demand for oil and gas by advocating to electrify transportation in Minnesota. CCT is the only formal advocacy coalition of its kind in Minnesota campaigning for transportation electrification as a primary means of addressing climate change while unencumbered by private interests or trade groups. CCT members include Fresh Energy, The Alliance, MN350, Sierra Club North Star, Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, Clean Up the River Environment, and of Concerned Scientists.
Fresh Energy also works with a coalition of partners – including the Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club (National), Plug In America, and MCEA – to engage in clean transportation regulatory proceedings at the MN Utilities Commission.
Growth in the deployment of public and private charging stations and EVs – The deployment of chargers and EVs is a goal of our advocacy at the MN Public Utilities Commission and work will continue through the current grant period.
Growth in economic opportunities, jobs, and local tax revenue – Minnesota-based clean transportation market development is a goal of our advocacy for the 2024 legislative session (February – May 2024).
2025 clean transportation campaign – Development of a 2025 campaign centered around passage of a landscape-level clean transportation policy is occurring now. Power building for that campaign will continue through December 2024.
Deployment of state and federal funding opportunities – Program design and implementation for fund disbursement is ongoing and will continue through the current grant period.
Strategic planning – Fresh Energy’s strategic planning process for 2025-2030 begins in Q3 of 2023 and concludes in Q3 of 2024. The new strategic plan will be implemented in February 2025.
Clean Transportation Department staffing – Anjali Bains will assume the Managing Director position in January 2024. We will hire a Senior Policy Associate staff member for the team in Q1 of 2024.
Unapproved