What is Minnesota's ETA?

Minnesota’s Efficient Technology Accelerator (ETA) is a statewide market transformation program that accelerates deployment and reduces the cost of emerging and innovative efficient technologies, bringing lower energy bills and environmental benefits to all Minnesotans.  

Funded by investor-owned utilities and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, Minnesota’s ETA is implemented by the nonprofit Center for Energy and Environment. The partnership exists to: 

• drive a strategic process to accelerate market deployment of key technologies, 
• employ effective strategies to leverage market forces, 
• become a hub for collaboration among stakeholders, and 
• achieve cost-effective energy savings and other benefits for utilities and Minnesotans. 

We save Minnesotans money by speeding and easing the adoption of today’s most energy efficient technologies. Long term, we aim to methodically improve consumer choices by adding better technologies and best practices throughout our home state. 

Minnesota’s ETA supports a select number of promising technologies and approaches, often starting at an early stage of development. After concept development, initiatives move through program development, market development, and long-term monitoring and tracking — all tracked and vetted by Minnesota Department of Commerce, funding utilities, and other key stakeholders. 

In 2021, the State Legislature authorized Minnesota’s Department of Commerce to approve establishment of a new energy efficiency program to accelerate the deployment and reduce the cost of innovative technologies and approaches. Today, Minnesota’s ETA is administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources and funded by energy utilities.