Frank Jossi is an independent journalist and consultant based in St. Paul, Minnesota and a longtime contributor to Midwest Energy News. His articles have appeared in more than 50 publications, including Minnesota Monthly, Wired, the Los Angeles Times and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Jossi has also been a Humphrey policy fellow at the University of Minnesota, a Fulbright journalism teacher in Pakistan and Albania, and a program director of the World Press Institute at Macalester College.
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Tight housing market has left little room for buyers to consider efficiency
Cities including Minneapolis and Bloomington, Minnesota, are making more information about home energy performance available to prospective buyers, but its use has been limited by the tight housing market and other factors.By Frank Jossi .
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Xcel Energy to test resilience hubs in three Minneapolis neighborhoods
The utility will spend nearly $9 million integrating solar, batteries, and microgrid technology at three community sites as part of a broader grid modernization plan recently approved by state regulators.By Frank Jossi .
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From suburbs to small towns, more Minnesota cities taking climate action
More than a dozen Minnesota cities have adopted climate action plans as the impact of warmer and more extreme weather on cities becomes more apparent.By Frank Jossi .
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Minnesota courts hear challenges to use of agricultural land for solar projects
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has sided both in favor of solar developers and county officials in recent cases that challenged the denial of permits to build community solar projects in rural areas.By Frank Jossi .
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U.S. solar manufacturer says importing parts is still risky despite tariff pause
In an interview, the president of solar module manufacturer Heliene, operator of Minnesota’s only solar manufacturer, talked about the impact of recent federal actions and an upcoming expansion that will triple its output.By Frank Jossi .
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St. Paul school is latest to conclude geothermal is ‘the way to go’
Space constraints, energy savings and the long-term return on investment convinced St. Paul Public Schools to install a ground-source geothermal heat pump system at a high school that until now hasn’t had a cooling system.By Frank Jossi .
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Xcel Energy time-of-use rate pilot shows only slight impact on peak demand
The utility launched a time-of-use pilot in November 2020 in two contrasting Twin Cities neighborhoods. A report on its first year suggests it’s had a modest impact on peak demand but isn’t saving participants much money.By Frank Jossi .
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Minneapolis jobs program aims to grow and diversify clean energy workforce
The city’s Green Career Exploratory Program, launched in the early days of the pandemic, is open to all but emphasizes recruitment of people of color through its partnerships with various community institutions.By Frank Jossi .
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After rough start, electric buses are back on the road in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Metro Transit idled its first batch of electric buses due to mechanical and charging problems. They’re now back in service, along with a plan to convert almost 12% of its fleet to electric models over the next five years.By Frank Jossi .
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Minnesota bill aims to close a gap on funding for ‘pre-weatherization’ work
A suburban state lawmaker’s bill would supplement federal weatherization funding with $60 million over the next three years, nearly doubling the money available and providing crucial flexibility to cover “pre-weatherization” work.By Frank Jossi .
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