Clean Energy

Photo from a climate justice protest in Minneapolis
From a climate justice protest in Minneapolis

Mission

We work to advance our abundant renewable energy resources and end our dependence on fossil fuels to provide cleaner, healthier air, and a stable climate, while promoting equity and justice every step of the way.

What We Do

Our members are volunteers of all ages and experience levels who care about achieving better air quality, addressing climate change, and building a clean, renewable energy future. Our work includes:

  • Advocating for policies at the legislature and the Public Utilities Commission that
    • Increase the supply of clean, renewable energy
    • Create more access to clean energy and energy efficiency for low income and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities
    • Create clean energy jobs

  • Partnering with other organizations on powerful projects and campaigns to advance our goals

  • Collecting petitions and writing letters or making phone calls to decision-makers

  • Informing the public on current issues fact sheets, public meetings, and greater media visibility

Get Involved

Join us at our monthly meetings!

Date: 4th Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.

RSVP and details on the website calendar, meetings always include a video/call-in option. Questions? Contact Patty at patty.okeefe@sierraclub.org.

More Information on Current Priorities

Our current priorities fall into four main categories:

Stopping the bad: We work to push back on any proposals to build new fossil fuel infrastructure in Minnesota. This work also includes efforts to electrify our buildings and get so-called natural gas out of our homes.

Build the new: We’re advancing the 100% clean energy bill at the state level, as well as pushing for more community solar and energy efficiency at the Capitol and in local communities.

Environmental justice: We strive to do all of our work through a lens of environmental justice because shifting our energy sector offers opportunities to address racial and economic disparities in pollution and energy costs. Our Environmental Justice Committee meets monthly. Contact Delaney at delaney.sierraclub@gmail.com to join.

Raising awareness: Our Education and Outreach team is in the community, tabling at events and talking to people about climate change and environmental justice. Email Patty at patty.okeefe@sierraclub.org if you’d like to join our monthly coordination meetings.

Check out our tips for Energy Conservation here: Energy Conservation Corner tips.

Recent Clean Energy Updates

Critical Minerals: Nickel

March 26, 2024
Lithium ion batteries using high amounts of nickel have great energy density and storage capacity. Energy generation facilities and electric vehicle makers are expected to drive a 140% increase in demand for nickel by 2040.

Critical Minerals: Rare Earth Elements

March 19, 2024
When people speak of rare earth elements (REEs) in relation to green energy, they are usually referring to four elements–neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium–used to make permanent magnets, which are essential parts of wind turbine...

Critical Minerals: What Are They?

March 12, 2024
In the US, critical minerals are a subset of critical materials, which the 2020 Energy Act defines as “any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material that the Secretary of Energy determines: (i) has a high risk of supply chain disruption; and...

Critical Minerals: Lithium

March 5, 2024
In 2019 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their work in developing the lithium ion battery. Lithium is a light-weight and energy-dense element, but it is very flammable. The development of its ions for battery use was...

Critical Minerals: Copper

February 27, 2024
The world’s transition to green energy depends, we are told, on increased use of certain “critical” minerals. In northern Minnesota, the fever for prospecting these minerals has led to conflict between mining and environmental interests. But mining...

Living Within Limits

February 17, 2024
As an American living under late-stage capitalism, the only curb on my desires for food, energy, and consumer goods is my ability to pay. But if it is true that the end of limitless resources is upon us – and all signs point that way – I won’t be...