Minnesota plans call on gas utilities to imagine their clean energy future

Critics say the plans are a step in the right direction but won’t put the state on track to achieve its clean energy goal of net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century.

Climate and clean energy advocates weighing in on CenterPoint Energy’s ideas to decarbonize its natural gas business in Minnesota applaud the effort. Though, say it falls short of what’s needed to meet the moment.

The state’s largest gas utility submitted an “innovation plan” last summer to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

In the hundreds of pages, the utility company proposes 18 pilot projects. The projects include everything from tree planting and geothermal, to carbon capture and hydrogen blending.

Altogether, the utility is asking to spend more than $105 million on 18 pilot projects.

It estimates will reduce the equivalent of around 330,000 metric tons of carbon emissions over the five-year plan, representing about a 4% reduction, according to calculations by clean energy organizations.

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