The Minneapolis City Council Health, Environment and Community Engagement Committee voted to authorize a first in the nation clean energy partnership agreement with its utilities. The city of Minneapolis has franchise agreements with Xcel Energy for electricity and CenterPoint Energy for natural gas. The long-term agreements allow the energy providers to access city owned right-of-ways to deliver services for a fee. The current agreement expires at the end of 2014 which allowed re-negotiations. The city - with participation from active community organizations - explored options to achieve specific goals for sustainable clean energy, clean air, equity and green jobs through a partnership agreement with the utilities. The clean energy partnership between the city and its utilities could become a new model for municipal climate action in communities across the USA.
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/WCMS1P-131857
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/energyfranchise/index.htm