More transportation options - Fresh Energy helped pass a strong statewide Complete Streets policy in 2010 so that our streets and roadways are designed and operated to be safe and accessible for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and drivers—all users, regardless of age or ability. This means more livable communities and less traffic pollution.

Funding clean energy and better buildings - In 2010. Fresh Energy supported passage of a law allowing Minnesota cities to offer Property Assessed Clean Energy loans. These loans could be used by property owners to finance renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvements, then pay it back through assessments on their property taxes over time. It’s a way to make energy improvements affordable for property owners, create jobs, and reduce pollution.

Boosting Solar Investment - Fresh Energy worked closely with Xcel Energy and the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis to refine and pass legislation in 2009 that will result in a $25 to $30 million investment in solar energy.

Making Room for More Wind - In 2009, in collaboration with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Wind on the Wires, and the Izaak Walton League, Fresh Energy successfully ensured that space will be reserved for wind energy on vast new transmission lines that will be built in western Minnesota.

Advancing Community Wind - In 2009, Fresh Energy helped pass a new Minnesota law that requires utilities to offer standard contracts for electricity from renewable energy projects that are 5 megawatts and smaller (usually the size of one or two wind turbines)—a huge leap forward for smaller and community-financed and owned projects.

Connecting Land Use, Transportation, and the Environment - Fresh Energy and partners secured a provision in the 2009 Omnibus Transportation Finance act for a report on land-use and transportation planning strategies to reduce air pollution, congestion, and infrastructure costs by better managing travel demand. This report is an important step toward helping communities and policy makers better understand the important role land-use planning plays in individual transportation choices.

Cleaner Transportation Options - Fresh Energy and its allies worked tirelessly during the 2009 Minnesota legislative session to promote cleaner transportation options for all Minnesotans. Legislative victories included the following:

1. A two-year solution for the record $63 million operating deficit for Twin Cities transit, and funding to support transit in greater Minnesota.
2. A $26 million investment for intercity passenger rail planning, including high-speed rail to connect the Twin Cities with Chicago and Duluth.
3. A $21 million investment for transitway development in the Twin Cities, including $8.5 million for the Central Corridor light rail line.
4. Requirement changes for school building projects that make it easier for communities to keep schools in walkable neighborhoods.
5. A Metropolitan Council effort to help communities rethink their land-use planning to support transportation options, reduce congestion, lower air pollution, and lower infrastructure costs.
6. Support for electric vehicles.

Supporting Renewable Energy - In 2008, Fresh Energy worked with energy advocates in Missouri to successfully pass a Renewable Energy Standard in that state.

Protecting Transit - Minnesota needed a legislative solution for the largest Metro Transit budget deficit in history that protected funding for transit in Greater Minnesota. Fresh Energy, Transit Partners, and legislative allies developed a creative solution to the deficit that should mean neither fare increases in the next two years nor drastic service cuts.

Limit and Lower Global Warming Pollution - Fresh Energy and partners were successful in 2008 in passing the Green Solutions Act. The bill provides funding for costs and benefits studies related to a regional cap and trade system to limit and lower global warming pollution. The bill also provides a team of Minnesota legislators the opportunity to monitor the Midwestern Governors Association process as they develop a regional cap and trade program. Any cap and trade program designed for Minnesota and the Midwest must now be approved by the legislature prior to enactment.

Using Less, Polluting Less - In 2007, the Minnesota State Legislature made history by passing the Next Generation Energy Act. This bill included tripling investment in energy efficiency in the state, as well as establishing science-based global warming pollution reduction targets of at least 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2015, 30 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050. Of the 201 state legislators, only 14 voted against this bill, signaling a bipartisan win for Minnesota.

Increasing Efficiency - Fresh Energy was a key proponent of a successful 2007 effort in Minnesota to establish an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) to reduce electric and gas utilities’ demand by 1.5 percent each year.

$10 Billion in Clean Energy Investments - We advocated for this 2007 law establishing one of the nation's strongest Renewable Electricity Standards (RES), requiring Minnesota's utilities to generate at least 25 percent of their power using renewable sources by 2025 - for a $10 billion investment in clean energy.

Clear Accountability - We helped create new state policy that requires electric utilities to publish a standardized label regarding how their electricity is made. It also requires them to reveal the environmental and health effects of their power mix.

Transit Tax Credit - Fresh Energy promoted this 30 percent credit against corporate income tax to employers who discount transit or vanpooling costs for their employees.

Permanent Transit Funding - Fresh Energy collaborated with Transit Partners, a coalition for increased, stable and secure transit funding, to bring an important issue before the voting public. In November 2006, Minnesota voters approved a state constitutional amendment to dedicate proceeds from Minnesota's motor vehicle sales tax to transportation, providing permanent funding for transit initiatives. The 2008 legislature  authorized a dedicated sales tax option for development of new transit corridors in participating Twin Cities area counties and also bonds for implementation of the Central Corridor light rail project.

Resources for Transportation Infrastructure - Fresh Energy, Transit Partners, the Minnesota Transportation Alliance and many others helped to increase funding for repair and replacement of bridges and for other transportation investments throughout Minnesota, supported by a nickel increase in the state gas tax, the first increase since 1988.