From July 2025 through June 2026, low-carbon sources supplied almost half of Minnesota’s electricity consumption, while fossil fuels supplied about 36% and net imports accounted for another 16%. Wind led the clean electricity mix at about 21%, followed by nuclear at nearly 19%. Solar contributed around 5%, including nearly 5% from utility-scale installations, while biofuels and hydropower each supplied roughly 1–2%. On the fossil side, coal and gas each accounted for about 18%. Minnesota therefore has a substantial low-carbon foundation, but expanding clean electricity would help reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and their climate and air-pollution impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s electricity consumption is growing, although modestly: the latest 2026 figure reached about 12,600 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record of about 12,500 kWh in 2025. The increase was 87 kWh per person, or roughly 0.7%. Low-carbon electricity generation also set a new record, reaching about 6,000 kWh per person—112 kWh above the 2025 record, an increase of nearly 2%. It is encouraging that clean generation grew faster than consumption, but stronger growth would help meet future electricity demand from electrification and AI.

Suggestions

Minnesota should build on its established nuclear and wind generation while accelerating solar deployment. Expanding output from existing nuclear facilities and considering additional nuclear capacity could strengthen its clean electricity supply: the nearby US state of Illinois generates almost half of its electricity from nuclear, while France generates about two-thirds. For wind, neighboring US states offer particularly relevant examples: Iowa generates about 57% of its electricity from wind, South Dakota about 56%, and North Dakota about 36%. Solar also has considerable room to grow from Minnesota’s current 5% share; the US state of Maine generates about 18% of its electricity from solar, demonstrating its contribution in a northern region. Together, nuclear, wind, and solar expansion could support a larger, increasingly low-carbon electricity supply.

History

The supplied history shows that Minnesota’s low-carbon electricity gains from 2024 through 2026 were led by nuclear and wind. Wind generation rose by 0.4 TWh in 2024 and another 0.6 TWh in 2025, before a disappointing 0.2 TWh decline in 2026, leaving a net gain of 0.8 TWh across the three annual changes. Nuclear generation was broadly steady in 2024, then increased strongly by 1.4 TWh in 2025 and another 0.4 TWh in 2026. Hydropower fluctuated modestly, rising by 0.1 TWh in 2024, falling by the same amount in 2025, and gaining 0.2 TWh in 2026, while biofuels generation remained unchanged throughout. The strong nuclear gains are especially encouraging; sustaining them alongside renewed wind growth and more solar would strengthen Minnesota’s clean electricity progress.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.