Knowledge Base

Rochester’s Energy Integration Committee Completes Nearly 90% of Strategic Energy Plan

July 7, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester’s Energy Integration Committee (EIC) is proud to announce that it has successfully completed or substantially advanced nearly every action outlined in its 2019 Strategic Energy Project Plan, a major achievement reflecting years of collaboration, innovation and leadership.

Formed to advance the City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center (DMC) energy and climate goals, the EIC has delivered results across clean energy, building efficiency, transportation electrification and innovation. As of spring 2025, all the Plan’s 26 strategies have been completed or are actively underway, positioning Rochester as a regional model for collaborative energy leadership.

Highlights of the EIC’s Achievements

• Driving energy efficiency citywide through launching a building benchmarking program, expanding energy design assistance offerings and streamlining participation with new data tools.
• Advancing clean energy and innovation by supporting Rochester Public Utilities' Resource and Infrastructure Planning and accelerating local and on-site renewable energy procurement.
• Enhancing transportation electrification, including funding a multi-organization electric vehicle (EV) fleet conversion study, enhancing electric vehicle codes and shaping the design of DMC’s Mobility Hubs to support electric mobility.
• Building operational excellence by centralizing City building operations for greater energy management and leading vendor education efforts to boost local energy expertise.
• Expanding financing and incentive tools by promoting Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, creating new energy project incentives and launching a one-stop conservation offering for small and mid-sized businesses.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Planning for the Future

Building on this success, the EIC is preparing for its next chapter. This summer, the Committee will convene a series of strategic planning sessions to update the Project Plan, set new strategies and targets for the next five-plus years and align its work with Rochester’s evolving energy and sustainability goals.

“This milestone proves that when partnership, innovation, and commitment come together, big things are possible,” said Lauren Jensen, Energy and Sustainability Manager at Destination Medical Center “We’re not just celebrating what we’ve accomplished – we’re setting the foundation for the next wave of energy leadership in Rochester.”

The EIC’s collaborative, results-driven model continues to serve as a template for how cities can align government, utilities, healthcare institutions and businesses to drive meaningful energy initiatives.

This story is also available on the City website.

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About the Energy Integration Committee

The EIC is a cross-sector collaboration among the City of Rochester, Destination Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Energy Resources, Olmsted County, Rochester Public Utilities and University of Minnesota – Rochester. Formed in 2018, the Committee leads initiatives to reduce energy use, expand renewable energy, advance building performance, support electrification and develop innovative district energy solutions in Rochester, MN.

More information

To learn more about Rochester’s Sustainability goals and plans, please visit: RochesterMN.gov/Sustainability.

Kayla Betzold, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Rochester

Kbetzold@RochesterMN.gov, 507-328-2212