Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis is Minnesota’s most populous city, with a population of about 430,000 people. Its metropolitan area, commonly referred to as the Twin Cities, has a population of 3.7 million. Minneapolis has a long history of industrial innovation that powered the U.S. economy, and today hosts the headquarters of 17 Fortune 500 companies.
Minneapolis has been a leader on climate action in the Midwest. In 2021, the City declared a climate emergency, and in 2023 adopted its Climate Equity Plan, which focuses on the co-equal goals of wealth, health, and climate. The plan prioritizes communities living in green zones – neighborhoods that face cumulative impacts of environmental, social, political, and economic vulnerability. The Climate Equity Plan also establishes the Climate Legacy Initiative, which allocates $10 million in annual funding for local climate initiatives.
Minneapolis Programs, Policies, and Strategies
BEI worked with Minneapolis from 2024-2025 through Community Climate Shift, a groundbreaking initiative focused on community-led policymaking that reduces energy and carbon from buildings while centering community priorities such as public health and job creation. The work resulted in a stronger relationship between the city and community partners such as ISAIAH, setting the foundation for additional meaningful engagement for building decarbonization policies and strategies.
This work builds on a long track record of climate progress in the city. Minneapolis enacted an energy benchmarking policy in 2013, creating a solid foundation for future building policies. In 2014, Minneapolis secured a 10-year franchise agreement with CenterPoint and Xcel utilities to establish the Clean Energy Partnership. In early 2025, a new agreement was adopted that includes utility-established greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, a first for both utility companies. Minneapolis’s Climate Legacy Initiative – funded by the new agreement – supports innovative programs such as the Green Cost Share program, which will help ensure all residents can access and afford the benefits of clean energy.
Minneapolis stands as a leading example of how cities can combine ambitious climate action with social equity goals through its innovative climate plans, comprehensive local policies, and dedicated local funding.