100 Percent MN is an environmentalist group with the goal of requiring Minnesota to generate all its energy from weather-dependent sources instead of conventional sources. ¹

Background

Environmentalists founded the 100 Percent MN campaign in 2019. The group wants to create an “equitable clean energy future.” ²

Caucus For Climate

In February 2020, the 100 Percent MN campaign urged activists to go to state senate district conventions to campaign for a resolution calling for Minnesota to generate 100 percent of its energy from weather-dependent sources instead of conventional sources. The group claims everywhere activists proposed the resolution, it passed. ¹

COVID-19 Response

In May 2020, 100 Percent MN campaign director Chris Conry published an op-ed comparing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic to what could happen in a climate change response. He accused Republicans, and particularly then-President Donald Trump, of using misinformation to undermine the pandemic response. He alleged that climate change critics built the misinformation infrastructure that COVID-19 response critics were using. In the piece, Conry decried as misinformation the fact that COVID-19 originated in China. He claimed that COVID-19 disproportionately affected women and racial minorities. ³

After Lockdown

In July 2020, 100 Percent MN’s campaign director Chris Conry published an op-ed advocating what Minnesota should do once it reopened. He advocated for the Minnesota legislature to pass a significant spending bill. He called for more spending on weather-dependent, intermittent energy. He also called for expanded mail-in voting. ⁴

2021 Legislature

After the 2021 Minnesota legislative session, 100 Percent MN released a report denouncing the Minnesota state Senate Republicans for “climate change denying” and “protecting racial hierarchy” because of the Senate’s refusal to allow the words “equity” and “environmental justice” in legislation. The group praised the legislature for passing $328 million in climate change-related spending, which included expanding the use of weather-dependent energy at schools and community colleges, increasing energy efficiency, and expanding the use of mass transit. ⁵

2022 Agenda

In November 2022, 100 Percent MN campaign director Chris Conry authored an article outlining progress in 2022. He praised lawsuits against oil companies for allegedly cheating consumers and denying climate change. He praised a Biden administration regulation which expanded the use of electric vehicles and mass transit. He praised the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act spending bill which supported weather-dependent energy. ⁶

Passage Of 100 Percent Carbon Free Energy

In February 2023, 100 Percent MN achieved its primary goal when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) signed a bill mandating that Minnesota generate 100 percent of its electricity from weather-dependent sources instead of conventional sources by 2040. The legislation also included provisions for unionizing workers who would work on these new energy projects. ⁷

Affiliations

100 Percent MN is part of the following coalitions: Green New Deal Network, We Make The Future, Together We Rise Minnesota, We Make Minnesota, We Choose Us, Greater Than Fear, and Narrative Justice League. ⁸

Leadership

100 Percent MN’s managing director is Chris Conry. Previously, Conry worked as the strategic campaigns director for TakeAction Minnesota. ⁹

1. “Minnesotans Gather to Caucus for Climate.” Medium, February 27, 2020. https://medium.com/@100PercentMN/minnesotans-gather-to-caucus-for-climate-399f8da83fee.
2. “Our Story.” 100%. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://100percentmn.org/who-we-are.
3.  Conry, Chris. “What This Crisis Can Tell Us about the Climate Crisis .” Minnesota Reformer, May 18, 2020. https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/05/18/what-this-crisis-can-tell-us-about-the-climate-crisis/.
4. Conry, Chris. “We’re out of the ICU, Minnesota; Time to Repair What’s Broken .” Minnesota Reformer, July 8, 2020. https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/07/08/were-out-of-the-icu-minnesota-time-to-repair-whats-broken/.
5.  Conry, Chris. “100% Campaign: Looking Back at the Legislative Session.” MN350. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://mn350.org/2021/08/100-campaign-looking-back-at-the-legislative-session/.
6.  Conry, Chris. “Minnesota Has Clean Energy Momentum; Now Is Not the Time to Let Up.” MinnPost, November 4, 2022. https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2022/11/minnesota-has-clean-energy-momentum-now-is-not-the-time-to-let-up/.
7. “Governor Walz Signs Bill Moving Minnesota to 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2040.” Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, February 7, 2023. https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-563453.
8. “Our Campaigns.” 100%. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://100percentmn.org/our-campaigns.
9. “Our Team.” 100%. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://100percentmn.org/our-team.