Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental Stewardship
• Community Support
• Employee Well-being
• Reliable and Affordable Energy
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced coal-based energy and more than doubled renewable energy, anticipating a 90% carbon-free power supply by 2035.
• Reduced SO2 and NOx emissions significantly since 2005.
• Decreased water withdrawal for power plants by more than 90% since 2015.
• Restored approximately 300 acres to native or pollinator-friendly habitat.

Social Achievements

• Achieved highest ever score in member satisfaction survey.
• Issued $38 million in bill credits and returned $25 million in patronage capital payments to member-owners.
• Awarded 10 scholarships to local students.
• Donated $916,779 to charitable causes.
• 1,054 paid volunteer hours used by employees.
• Supported the development of a new fire hall and assisted Midstate Plastics with equipment replacement.
• Funded 27 EV safety training events for 1,319 first responders.

Governance Achievements

• Maintained an equity to capitalization ratio of 20%.
• Achieved A-, A-, and A3 credit ratings from S&P, Fitch, and Moody’s, respectively.
• Received a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Uncertainty in energy markets.
• Increasingly common and severe weather events impacting transmission system resilience.
• Need for expanded transmission to support renewable energy expansion.

Mitigation Strategies

• Proactive investments to maintain a reliable and resilient regional power grid.
• Installation of additional motor-operated switches for faster power restoration.
• Methodical design and operation of transmission lines to handle high heat and demand.
• Identifying and mitigating assets susceptible to severe weather events.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Buying local whenever possible; spent over $110.6 million on goods and services from local businesses.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Severe weather events (ice, wind, wildfires, flash flooding)

Opportunities

• Expansion of renewable energy

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• 'Sota Grown' project for sustainable indoor agriculture.

Awards & Recognition

• Environmental Initiative’s 2022 Rural Vitality honorable mention award for 'Sota Grown' project
• Healthiest Employer award for six consecutive years
• Great Place to Work® Certified™ for the third time in 2022

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental Stewardship
• Community Development
• Employee Well-being
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90% from 2005 levels by 2035 (projected)
• Reduced water withdrawal for power plants by more than 95% since 2015
• Significant reduction in SO2 and NOx emissions since 2005
• Added more than 300 MW of renewable energy generating capacity in 2023
• Developed over 300 acres of pollinator-friendly land in Minnesota and committed to adding 300 more acres in the next five years.

Social Achievements

• Issued $25 million in patronage capital returns to members in 2023
• Donated $999,513 to charitable causes in 2023
• Raised nearly $80,000 through employee giving campaign in 2023
• Employees volunteered over 1,500 hours in 2023
• Spent nearly $150 million (66% of annual spending) on goods and services from local businesses in 2023
• Diverse spend of over $7.87 million (nearly 7% of annual spend) in 2023

Governance Achievements

• Received a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-24 Corporate Equality Index
• Employee-driven business improvement initiatives resulted in over $21.1 million in savings in 2023
• Transparent and accountable decision-making processes, with readily available board decisions and financial reports

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Meeting Minnesota's new carbon-free standard
• Maintaining grid reliability during peak demand and extreme weather conditions

Mitigation Strategies

• Investing in renewable energy sources (wind, solar)
• Developing multi-day energy storage solutions
• Implementing demand-response programs
• Adding dual fuel capability at Cambridge Peaking Station
• Participating in transmission upgrade projects (Northland Reliability Project)

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Prioritizing local and diverse suppliers

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Awards & Recognition

• 2023 Healthiest Employers of Minnesota (mid-size company category)
• 2023 Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion