A new energy report assesses the past and plans for the future
ST. PAUL—A new study has taken a close look at the state’s 30-plus years of energy efficiency achievements and re-evaluated the state’s goals for the next decade.
The Minnesota Energy Efficiency Potential Study: 2020-2029—funded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, through Conservation Applied Research and Development—sought to get a comprehensive snapshot both of the current state of energy efficiency in Minnesota and the outlook for the future.
The 138-page report (available at mncee.org) estimated statewide electric and natural gas energy efficiency and carbon-saving potential for the next 10 years; identified the measures and programs that could be key to helping the state realize its energy efficiency potential; addressed stakeholders responsible for advancing energy policies and energy efficiency programs; and highlighted information to support energy efficiency goals. The Center for Energy and Environment led the research and published the study.
“We’ve been focusing on energy efficiency here since the early ’90s at least,” CenterPoint Energy’s Nick Mark told American Gas. Mark, manager of conservation and renewable energy policy, represented CenterPoint Energy as a member of an advisory committee overseeing the study. “But one of the questions that came up was whether, given that record, it made sense to continue pursuing those same standards or whether we need to modify them in some way.”
When it came to natural gas, the project team discovered that, for the most part, Minnesota’s standards had not only been sufficiently effective but would likely be appropriate, with perhaps only minor changes, for the foreseeable future. “There are still energy efficiency savings that can be achieved, but the amount of savings is not such that we need to significantly change the state’s goals,” Mark said. “They seem to be set at about the right level.”
However, Mark did notice a few unexpected survey findings. “One surprise was the number of Minnesota customers who heat with electricity. It was something like 17 percent, higher than people expected. But that makes more sense when you look at many customers being apartment dwellers.”
While not calling for a significant realignment, the study does suggest ways to fine-tune Minnesota’s natural gas efficiency goals. The recommended measures would result in a cumulative annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in 2029 of 2.8 million tons for natural gas utilities. Such reductions do not require radical changes, yet Mark admits that they do still present a challenge for gas utilities.
“Gas is very different when it comes to energy efficiency relative to electricity,” he said. “You’ve got limited end uses; most homes in Minnesota that have access to natural gas use it mostly for space heating. And the low cost of gas can be a barrier to people wanting to focus on efficiency,” since the cost of unaddressed inefficiencies can be negligible. “Often, the need to do additional work to bring in a more efficient appliance—such as meeting the exhaust requirements for a condensing furnace—can also be a barrier.”
Although the study is specific to Minnesota, Mark said, “The broad strokes are generally applicable for utilities around the country.”
He also believes there is value in taking stock of energy efficiency, no matter how strong your energy efficiency program might be. “Just because you’ve been doing energy efficiency for decades doesn’t mean you’ve done everything possible,” he told us. “There may still be more to achieve.”