Community-Owned Clean Heating & Cooling for the Longfellow Neighorhood
Longfellow Community Energy (LCE) is a nonprofit district energy utility created to deliver cost-competitive, low-carbon heating and cooling to Longfellow through a shared geothermal energy network.
LCE will provide buildings with a renewable thermal energy system that uses groundwater to provide efficient heating and cooling year-round. The result is lower greenhouse gas emissions, more stable long-term energy costs, and infrastructure that can grow alongside the neighborhood.
LCE was established to:
- Finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain a district energy system that serves commercial tenants, residents, and visitors while keeping energy costs stable.
- Strengthen the community’s ability to meet Minneapolis’ ambitious sustainability and climate goals.
- Expand access to clean, reliable energy for future neighborhood development.
A Community Utility for Longfellow
Longfellow Community Energy is an independent Minnesota nonprofit corporation created specifically to own and operate this district energy system for community benefit.
Unlike a traditional private utility, LCE’s purpose is not to maximize profits. Instead, it exists to provide reliable, cost effective, low-carbon energy, while reinvesting in infrastructure that benefits the neighborhood over the long term.
In December 2023, the Minneapolis City Council formally and unanimously supported the creation of Longfellow Community Energy, recognizing that the organization will help advance the City’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The system is being developed through a partnership between Redesign, Inc. and Ever-Green Energy to serve community-focused buildings and future redevelopment projects throughout the neighborhood.
Community-Owned Clean Heating & Cooling for the Longfellow Neighorhood
Longfellow Community Energy (LCE) is a nonprofit district energy utility created to deliver cost-competitive, low-carbon heating and cooling to Longfellow through a shared geothermal energy network.
LCE will provide buildings with a renewable thermal energy system that uses groundwater to provide efficient heating and cooling year-round. The result is lower greenhouse gas emissions, more stable long-term energy costs, and infrastructure that can grow alongside the neighborhood.
LCE was established to:
- Finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain a district energy system that serves commercial tenants, residents, and visitors while keeping energy costs stable.
- Strengthen the community’s ability to meet Minneapolis’ ambitious sustainability and climate goals.
- Expand access to clean, reliable energy for future neighborhood development.
A Community Utility for Longfellow
Longfellow Community Energy is an independent Minnesota nonprofit corporation created specifically to own and operate this district energy system for community benefit.
Unlike a traditional private utility, LCE’s purpose is not to maximize profits. Instead, it exists to provide reliable, cost effective, low-carbon energy, while reinvesting in infrastructure that benefits the neighborhood over the long term.
In December 2023, the Minneapolis City Council formally and unanimously supported the creation of Longfellow Community Energy, recognizing that the organization will help advance the City’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The system is being developed through a partnership between Redesign, Inc. and Ever-Green Energy to serve community-focused buildings and future redevelopment projects throughout the neighborhood.
Why District Geothermal?
Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Minneapolis. According to the City of Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan, commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings account for approximately 43% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, making building decarbonization one of the most important climate strategies available. In addition, burning natural gas inside buildings releases pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter, all of which can contribute to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other respiratory illnesses.
District geothermal systems replace fossil fuel heating with renewable thermal energy. By sharing infrastructure across multiple buildings, they can reduce emissions while improving efficiency, lowering long-term operating costs, and supporting healthier indoor environments.
Built for Equity
A key tenant of Longfellow Community Energy is to ensure the benefits of clean energy are shared across the community. This system is designed to:
- Support affordable housing and nonprofit facilities
- Reduce long-term operating costs for community-serving organizations
- Create infrastructure that encourages equitable redevelopment
- Keep decision-making focused on neighborhood benefit through nonprofit governance
- Expand access to renewable energy for organizations that might otherwise be unable to invest in standalone geothermal systems
By sharing infrastructure, participating organizations can access clean energy that would be difficult or prohibitively expensive to develop independently.
Join the Network
If your organization is planning a renovation, new construction project, or replacement of an aging heating and cooling system, now is the ideal time to explore connecting to Longfellow Community Energy.
Early coordination helps reduce future construction costs and ensures your building can take full advantage of the shared district energy network.
Contact Redesign to learn more about partnership opportunities.
