6 ways VP candidate Tim Walz helped make Minnesota a climate leader

Seemingly overnight, Tim Walz has gone from the folksy, relatively unknown two-term Minnesota governor to an effective Democratic attack dog, and now to the party’s presidential ticket. 

Since the Minnesota Democratic Party won control of state government in the 2022 election, Walz and lawmakers have pushed to pass a raft of progressive policies and catapulted the state into a leadership position on climate. Here are the most consequential policy measures the Walz administration has taken on. 

Clean energy goals

After taking over both houses of the legislature in January 2023, Minnesota Democrats passed a 100-percent clean energy commitment for retail electricity sales by 2040. That represents one of the most aggressive clean energy goals across the United States to date.  

The bill was broadly praised by climate groups in Minnesota and was supported by Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electric utility. At the bill signing, Walz said. “Climate change impacts lives and livelihoods in every corner of our state. Minnesota will continue to lead the way on combating climate change and we’ll create clean energy jobs in the process.”

Permitting reform

The challenges of building new infrastructure due to permitting requirements are well documented. The challenge of balancing the need for due diligence around environmental impact while also building the renewable energy, transmission and other infrastructure to support the transition to clean energy is huge. 

The Walz administration and allies aim to alleviate these challenges with energy permitting reform legislation passed on the last day of the 2024 legislative session. The reforms are expected to result in time savings of nine to 12 months for permitting and building renewable energy and transmission projects in the state. 

Increasing access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure

The 2023 One Minnesota Budget bill requires EV charging infrastructure be present in or adjacent to all new commercial and multi-family buildings in the state.

Enhancing pollinator habitat

 A state program provides financial and technical assistance to establish or enhance native vegetation for pollinator health.

Home resilience

Two programs aim to protect homes in Minnesota from climate effects. The first is designed to help homeowners protect their property from extreme weather events. The second program will help low-income Minnesotans’ weatherize their homes to save energy and also includes a component to train the next generation workforce in making home improvements.

Growing clean economy apprenticeships

The Walz 2023 budget provided $3 million to grow apprenticeship opportunities for clean economy jobs in Minnesota. 

These initiatives also coincide with the August 2022 passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Evergreen Action, a Seattle-based non-profit organization focused on climate action, has a useful fact sheet on the various ways Minnesota is taking advantage of IRA funding.

To be sure, climate activists in the state point out that Walz’s environmental record is mixed: he approved the $2.6 billion Line 3 pipeline, which carries oil from Alberta, Canada, after calling the project a “non-starter” in his 2017 campaign.