Advancing Industrial Electrification in Minnesota
Manufacturing is a vital economic engine in Minnesota, employing over 300,000 people and contributing 11% of the state’s annual GDP. Modernizing Minnesota's manufacturing sector with clean heat technologies offers a path to reduced emissions, progress toward the state's 2050 net-zero goal, and global competitiveness for years to come.
In this report, we lay out a roadmap for decarbonizing low- and medium-temperature (LMT) process heat in Minnesota’s manufacturing sector. Using engineering models, we identify where and how industrial electrification can deliver climate, economic, and public-health benefits to Minnesota and its residents. We also recommend near-term actions that policymakers can take to accelerate deployment of clean heat technologies. This analysis can inform emerging state efforts to define industrial decarbonization pathways across agencies and subsectors.
Authors: Nathan Mariano, Eleanor Thomas, Olivia Quinn, Brandon Isakson, Leah Stokes, Eric Masanet
Webinar: Policy pathways for decarbonizing the manufacturing sector
May 14, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
As Minnesota advances toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 — what are some of the most actionable and cost-effective decarbonization opportunities for this sector?
In April, Fresh Energy and The 2035 Initiative co-authored a new study, “Advancing Industrial Electrification in Minnesota,” that charts practical policy pathways for decarbonizing the manufacturing sector.
Register to join the study’s authors, including The 2035 Initiative’s Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Eric Masanet and Fresh Energy’s Brandon Isakson, with opening remarks from Pete Wyckoff, Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce on Thursday, May 14 at 1 p.m Pacific | 3 p.m. Central to dig into the details of the report, discuss policy pathways, and to answer audience questions. This webinar is for policymakers, advocates, and anyone interested in decarbonizing manufacturing. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all who register after the event.