Fresh Energy

“There are no material differences in voting rights among members of the board of directors and the executive committee may consider any actions, or take up any matters deemed important or necessary for the continued operation of the corporation between scheduled meetings of the full board.”

“The 990 is provided to the entire board for review prior to filing. The finance & audit committee carefully review the form 990 and make a recommendation to the entire board to accept the 990. The executive director signed the 990.”

“Procedure when director or officer has conflict: 1) each director or officer of fresh energy has a duty to disclose to the board (and to any applicable committee of the board that one is addressing) the material facts of any proposed transaction or action of fresh energy in which such director has any conflicts. 2) the disclosure required under #1 (above) must be made, to the extent possible, prior to any consideration of such proposed transaction or action by the board or by any applicable committee of the board. If a director or officer does not recognize the existence of a conflict prior to the board's decision regarding the transaction, the board member has a duty to disclose the material facts of the conflict as soon as the conflict is recognized. 3) the director or officer having a conflict shall not participate in the deliberation or decision regarding the matter under consideration and shall retire from the room during deliberations except to the extent he or she has been invited by the board or committee to participate, after consideration of the significance to fresh energy of the disclosed conflict. The board or committee may also request that he or she provide fresh energy with any relevant information known to the director regarding the matter. 4) any proposed transaction or action in which the board has determined that a director or officer has a conflict of interest is to be approved by a majority of the directors entitled to vote other than the interested director(s) at a meeting at which a quorum is present (i.e., by a supermajority of the entire board not including the conflicted director(s)), even though the non-conflicted directors may constitute less than a quorum. 5) when there is any doubt as to whether a conflict exists (and these procedures are thus to be employed) the matter shall be resolved by action of the board, not including the participation of the individual whose potential conflict is at issue. All directors and officers are obligated to notify the board if they believe an individual director or officer has failed to proffer disclosure of a conflict they believe to be at hand, and the aformentioned procedure (resolution by action of the board, not including the particiaption of the individual whose potential conflict is at issue) shall be employed by the board in all such instances. Procedure when staff has conflict: 1) each staff member has a duty to disclose to the director of operations and finance of fresh energy the material facts of any proposed transaction of fresh energy in which such person has any conflict. 2) the disclosure required under #1 (above) is to be made immediately, and to the extent possible, before any consideration of such proposed transaction by fresh energy. If a staff member does not recognize the existence of a conflict prior to fresh energy's decision regarding the transaction, the staff member has a duty to disclose the material facts of the conflict as soon as it is recognized. 3) a staff member having a conflict shall not participate in the deliberation or decision by fresh energy regarding the transaction under consideration, unless invited by the director of operations and finance of fresh energy to do so, after consideration of the significance to fresh energy of the disclosed conflict. The director of operations and finance of fresh energy may also request that he or she provide fresh energy with any relevant information regarding the matter. 4) the director of operations and finance of fresh energy shall take such additional action as may be required to ensure that the conflict is properly noticed to management and that appropriate steps are employed as the transaction and its terms are brought forth for decision-making and/or implementation. Furthermore, the director of operations and finance of fresh energy shall maintain a record of the existence, procedure employed in managing, and resolution of the conflict. 5) when there is any doubt as to whether a c”

“The executive director's salary is reviewed by the board of directors in february of each year during the annual performance evaluation process. Periodically, the board of directors uses a third party to perform an analysis and provide a competitive compensation study as a more in depth review of the executive director's salary. This process was last undertaken in november of 2023. The director of operations and finance, deputy executive director, senior director and lead director's salaries are also determined during the annual performance evaluation which is completed in february of each year. Periodically, a third party is used to perform an analysis and provide a competitive compensation study to determine the salary. This process was last undertaken in march of 2024.”

“The organization makes its articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available on a case-by-case basis. Every request is considered individually by the board of directors.”

“Margaret cherne-hendrick was appointed chief executive officer effective april 15, 2025.”

“During the year ended january 31, 2025, the organization's board of directors approved a resolution for a programmatic funding transaction. Under this resolution, the board approved a transfer of funds from its energy news network (enn) program to canary media, a 501(c)(3) organization.”

“Energy transition: analysis makes it clear: to turn the tide on climate change, we must not only generate electricity without carbon, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our entire economy. Fresh energy is using multiple strategies to speed an economywide transition, doubling down on energy efficiency, using clean electricity instead of fossil fuels, and making dramatic improvements to our built environment. Our major energy transition priorities include: clean transportation - with a focus on transitioning from polluting vehicles to clean electric cars and buses. In addition to spurring policy change, such as clean cars minnesota, to increase access to electric vehicles, we conduct effective advocacy at the public utilities commission to ensure the electric grid is ready for transportation electrification that benefits all consumers. Building performance - including shaping minnesota's building code and other policy solutions, leading market transformation and education, and advocating for proof-of concept models that demonstrate strategies for achieving equitable benefits while moving toward carbon-neutral buildings. Minnesota building decarbonization coalition - an active coalition incubated by fresh energy that now includes more than 200 organizations across the region sharing information and strategy on state-based projects; multiple initiatives at the intersection of health, equity, and decarbonization of the buildings sector; and an equity-centered sub-granting program that is building the capacity of local groups to engage on this issue. Gas decarbonization - a vital new initiative focused on transitioning away from gas for buildings and industry in a way that benefits consumers, improves indoor air quality, and reduces carbon emissions. Thanks to the natural gas innovation act, actively shaped by fresh energy, there are new openings at the minnesota public utilities commission to scrutinize gas utility infrastructure investments, rates, and pilot programs and fresh energy experts are using that forum to speed progress.”

“Energy news network: fresh energy's energy news network is a national network of news sites providing daily links to top energy news stories and original reporting on the transition to clean energy. Editorially independent from fresh energy's policy work, the energy news network is staffed by professional editors and a team of more than a dozen journalists who cover state-based stories in a regional context. Our energy news links and original reporting are published through five digests: u.s. Energy news, midwest energy news, southeast energy news, northeast energy news, and western energy news as well as centered, a separate midwest-focused newsletter about technology's role in fighting climate change. The more than 30 original news stories produced by energy news network reporters each month shine a light on stories that would otherwise go unreported, and our journalism is regularly republished or quoted in trade publications, traditional media outlets, and in other arenas. Our editorial staff works to increase diversity in stories covered and people quoted on energy and we have a new detroit equity fellowship program, in partnership with planet detroit and the detroit equity action lab, creating a model. The energy news network is a member of the institute for nonprofit news and our national advisory committee of journalism and media experts provides key guidance.”

“Acceleration fund: acceleration fund was developed to further accelerate the mission of fresh energy to shape and drive bold policy solutions to acheive equitable carbon-neutral economies.”

“Energy news reporters: program service expenses 272,174. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 272,174. Other: program service expenses 56,735. Management and general expenses 28,493. Fundraising expenses 18,149. Total expenses 103,377. Program consultants: program service expenses 196,290. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 196,290. Energy news network contractors: program service expenses 167,822. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 167,822. Staff development: program service expenses 1,989. Management and general expenses 5,834. Fundraising expenses 447. Total expenses 8,270. Contracts with collaborators: program service expenses 346,000. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 346,000. Coalition consultant: program service expenses 177,909. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 177,909. Executive director transition: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 19,000. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 19,000. Charity registration assistance: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 11,003. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 11,003. Strategic plan: program service expenses 46,027. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 46,027.”

“The organization has not changed its oversight process of the audit or its selection process of an independent accountant during the tax year.”