Decarbonize: The Clean Energy Podcast
Fresh Energy is speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy, which will ensure that our region enjoys good health, a vibrant economy, and thriving communities today and for generations to come. Working purely in the public interest, Fresh Energy’s team of scientists, economists, policy analysts, and educators develops and advances solutions that secure a clean energy future where all can thrive. Sign up for our monthly listserv focused on clean energy issues in Minnesota here: https://fresh-energy.org/
Episodes
Let’s talk about what happened at the Minnesota Legislature in 2026! Join Fresh Energy policy experts for a webinar we recorded the day after the legislative session ended to learn what we're celebrating, what was defended, what's next, and more.
Webinar guests:
- Justin Fay, chief program officer
- Brynn Kirsling, director, legislative and grassroots advocacy
- Molly McMullen, session associate
- Anjali Bains, managing director,...
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.
Pollution doesn't affect everyone equally — and Minnesota is doing something about it.
In our latest episode of "Decarbonize: The Clean Energy Podcast" Fresh Energy's Isak Kvam sits down with Fresh Energy staff Janiece Watts and Ethan Culver, and Sasha and Monse from our partner organization, COPAL, to discuss the Cumulative Impacts law, environmental justice history in Minnesota, and ways you can take action.
F...
Electricity demand is growing in Minnesota and across the country. Much of this growth is coming from large electricity users such as hyperscale data centers, electrified industrial processes, and beyond. It is crucial that these new electricity needs be met with clean energy solutions — not with new fossil generation.
Join us for a conversation about how distributed energy solutions can help meet growing electricity demand while al...
The 2026 session of the Minnesota Legislature begins on February 17. Join the Fresh Energy team for a conversation about what we expect for the coming session and our plans to meet the challenge of climate change.
Podcast Guests:
- Margaret Cherne-Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer
- Justin Fay, Chief Program Officer
- Brynn Kirsling, Director, Legislative and Grassroots Advocacy
Fresh Energy’s mission is to shape and ...
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Belem, Brazil from November 10-21, 2025. J. Drake Hamilton, managing director, science policy at Fresh Energy, attended the conference virtually and recently sat down with Isak Kvam for a webinar to debrief outcomes and take questions. Tune in and check out J.'s blog series with frequent updates throughout COP.
Join Fresh Energy's Eric Fowler and Isak Kvam for a conversation about why building energy codes matter for Minnesota's climate goals and to unpack upcoming residential building code updates that will make our buildings more efficient, affordable, and climate-friendly. This wide-ranging conversation covers everything from air tightness to insulation requirements and everything in between.
Fresh Energy’s mission is to shap...
Over 550 people from across Minnesota and the Midwest attended Fresh Energy’s 10th annual Benefit Breakfast on the morning of September 30, 2025, to celebrate the resilience and determination driving clean energy progress in Minnesota, share our vision for navigating uncertain times, and reflect on how local leadership is creating a new playbook for climate action.
Breakfast speakers in this recording include:
- Dr. Margaret Chern...
On July 4, 2025, the federal budget reconciliation bill was signed into law, a move that will have sweeping implications for clean energy and climate progress in the United States. But how will these cuts and changes impact Minnesota’s clean energy future?
Tune into the audio recording of our webinar from August 6 and join our policy experts for a discussion about the law’s implications for clean energy. We also have a lengthy blog...
In this episode, the Fresh Energy team discusses the challenging topic of mining and the transition to clean energy. The conversation covers a broad range of topics including investments in clean energy and the need for materials, material waste and recycling, the socioeconomic impacts of mining, what gets mined and what it's used for, the global demand for these materials, and more.
Tune into this episode hosted by Justin F...
Let’s talk about what happened (or still needs to happen) at the Minnesota Legislature! Join Fresh Energy policy experts for a webinar we recorded the day after the legislative session ended to learn what where things currently stand, what was defended, what's next, and more.
Webinar guests:
- Justin Fay, chief advocacy officer
- Brynn Kirsling, director, legislative and grassroots advocacy
- Jackson Sweeney, session assoc...
More and more Minnesotans are leveling up their lawn care with an electric mower. But do they live up to the hype and can they tackle the tough stuff?
The good news is that for most residential uses, and increasingly more and more commercial uses, electric mowers are actually a superior and more economical choice than gas mowers. Battery technology has advanced dramatically in the past decade and due to this, we’re seeing more power...
Guest Ep! The Impact of Uncertainty with Linda Lubi, Haley Deans, Osman Jermusek, Emma Kapinus, Hariette Ngam, Helen Grote, students at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment.
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Show Notes:
Across the State of Minnesota and the Nation, the clean energy sector is confronting the impacts of funding uncertainty. Millions of grant dollars towards Minnesota rebate programs, solar projects for schools, and nonpro...
Transportation is electrifying, from electric vehicles on our roadways to electric boats on our waterways and everything in between. Minnesotans are looking to go electric, but are electric boats practical in the Land of 10,000 Lakes?
Tune in to Fresh Energy's conversation with Shift2Electric’s Jukka Kukkonen for a conversation about electric boats, the emissions impacts of traditional boating, and to get a look at how electri...
The 2025 session of the Minnesota Legislature begins on January 14. Join the Fresh Energy team for a conversation about our plans and expectations for the coming session.
Podcast Guests:
Justin Fay, Senior Lead, Public Affairs and Advocacy
Brynn Kirsling, Senior Manager, Legislative and Grassroots Advocacy
Host: Jo Olson, Lead Director, Communications and Engagement
Further Reading:
- Blog: Our t...
The electric vehicle (EV) landscape continues to evolve swiftly, bringing new models and changes to buying incentives. Tune into our webinar recording where Fresh Energy's Jo Olson and Jukka Kukkonen dive into timing considerations for potential EV buyers, market trends in the U.S. and abroad, the new and used EV market, updates on charging plug standards, and more.
If you'd like to see the video version of this...
The 2024 U.N. Climate Conference, also known as COP, will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 through November 22. J. Drake Hamilton, senior director, science policy at Fresh Energy, will be one of the more than 40,000 participants from around the globe to attend.
On December 3, J. sat down with Fresh Energy's Isak Kvam to unpack her experience at COP29. You can stay up to date with J.'s experience at CO...
Aviation accounts for nearly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the United States. With emissions from aircrafts on the rise, federal and state governments are urgently seeking ways to reduce aviation industry emissions through low-carbon fuel pathways that can benefit communities, mitigate climate impacts, and drive business development. But what is sustainable aviation fuel and the possibilities (an...
The 2024 U.N. Climate Conference, also known as COP, will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 through November 22. J. Drake Hamilton, senior director, science policy at Fresh Energy, will be one of the more than 40,000 participants from around the globe to attend.
On November 1, J. sat down with Fresh Energy's Isak Kvam to unpack what she sees as some of the biggest goals for COP29. You can stay up to date wi...
This summer, Osprey Wilds, Soltek, and East Central Energy collaborated to install a 716-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system at Osprey Wilds’ campus. The project, the largest of its kind for any nature center in Minnesota, is a win-win-win for all parties. It creates consistent revenue for Soltek, supplies East Central Energy with clean, affordable energy, and provides Osprey Wilds with zero-emission electricity, allowing it to achi...
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