Skip to main content

State energy pathway · Minnesota

Start with the energy systems shaping Minnesota.

Minnesota is working toward a carbon-free grid by 2040 while still meeting the demands of extreme winters and a large, distributed system. That gives Minnesota students a direct view of how low-emission goals only matter if the grid stays dependable under stress.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

See why energy matters hereJump to the matched course

Why Energy Matters in Minnesota

Carbon-Free Target

Minnesota's 2040 carbon-free target means transforming a generation mix where natural gas (26%), nuclear (20%), and coal (19%) still supply about two-thirds of the state's electricity. Renewable sources already account for 33% of in-state generation, led by wind at 25%—placing Minnesota eighth nationally in wind capacity. Students who understand that contrast learn how Minnesota turns a long-term public commitment into near-term grid engineering decisions.

Winter Reliability

Extreme cold raises the stakes for Minnesota's grid reliability because power interruptions can quickly become safety and infrastructure problems. The state's winter electricity demand peaks when temperatures drop, creating a tension between seasonal reliability needs and the renewable sources that must replace coal and natural gas generation. Students who model those conditions learn how Minnesota has to balance lower-emission power with weather-driven reliability demands.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Minnesota test how resilient low-carbon systems perform so the state's evolving energy mix becomes something they can evaluate with real tradeoffs in view.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

Start here for Minnesota

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Minnesota's carbon-free commitment combined with winter reliability demands makes stress-testing a low-carbon grid under challenging conditions the most locally relevant starting point.

Mission spotlight

Push It to Failure

Students stress-test a low-carbon grid under high-demand and outage conditions, mirroring Minnesota's real challenge of reaching low-emission targets while keeping power dependable through extreme weather.

Included in LEA curriculum

Pilot proof

Students enjoy the work because it feels real.

In January 2026, 39 fourth-grade students in Indianapolis completed every lesson from start to finish — coding real pocket computers (microcontrollers), collecting live energy readings, and presenting findings to an audience.

4.6/5

Student enjoyment

72% of students gave it a 5-star rating

100%

Reported learning something new

Every student who took the survey said they learned something new

39

Students completed the entire course

Every student finished all five lessons, coded a pocket computer (microcontroller), and presented findings

Available to book today

Book the support that fits Minnesota.

Whether you want to get LEA into the hands of students this semester, plan for a pilot next year, or just learn more about the state-specific approach, you can book a session with our team to get the support you need.

School or district consultation

Review the state-specific entry point, pilot scope, and what implementation would look like for your classrooms.

Book this path

Founder-led instruction session

Bring Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele in to teach a project and show what high-quality facilitation looks like with students.

Book this path

Family or community guidance

Get help choosing the right starting point for home learning, after-school use, or a community organization rollout.

Book this path

Utility or business partnership call

Discuss local workforce relevance, territory fit, and how we can collaborate to support energy education in your community.

Book this path

Find your path

Choose your next step based on how you want to use LEA in Minnesota.

Select your path below to see the approach designed for how you will use LEA in Minnesota — whether you run a classroom, lead a school, or support a student at home.

Find the right starting point

Schools

Curriculum and professional development for your district

Teachers

Lesson plans and resources for your classroom

Parents

Learn alongside your child with guided family activities

Community

Hands-on energy programs for clubs and community groups

Utilities

STEM outreach and workforce pipeline programs

Businesses

Partner with Latimer Energy Academy to build the energy and technology workforce