Mayor Kim Norton Accepts National Recognition for Rochester’s Thermal Energy Network

- Jun 04, 2026

Administration

The City of Rochester has received a Large City Honorable Mention in the 2026 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards, presented by the United States Conference of Mayors and Walmart. The recognition honors the City of Rochester’s Thermal Energy Network, the first active thermal energy network in Minnesota.

The national awards program recognizes outstanding mayoral leadership in advancing energy innovation, sustainability and climate protection. Rochester was recognized alongside Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Miami, Florida, as one of five large-city honorable mention recipients nationwide.

“This recognition reflects Rochester’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and responsible stewardship of public resources,” said Mayor Kim Norton. “Our Thermal Energy Network demonstrates how cities can transform aging infrastructure into an opportunity to reduce emissions, lower operating costs and build a cleaner future for generations to come.”

Completed between May 2023 and December 2025, the $25.5 million project connects four major downtown civic facilities, Rochester Public Library, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester Art Center and Rochester Civic Theatre, through a shared geothermal heating and cooling system. The network uses innovative submerged closed-loop heat exchangers and highly efficient electric heat pumps to exchange thermal energy between buildings, significantly improving energy efficiency while eliminating fossil fuel-based heating and cooling.

The project was developed in response to the planned decommissioning of a failing district steam system that previously served the facilities. Rather than replacing the system with another fossil fuel-based solution, Rochester pursued a renewable energy alternative that aligns with the community’s long-term climate and energy goals.

The award application was submitted by the Office of the Mayor with support from Zack Wood, City of Rochester Manager of Facilities and Property, who highlighted the Thermal Energy Network’s innovative approach and measurable impact. The project was developed through the vision and leadership of Scot Ramsey, City of Rochester Manager of Facilities and Property, who championed the concept and guided its advancement, while Wood oversaw construction and implementation.

The Thermal Energy Network is projected to:

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2.3 million pounds of CO₂ annually.

Generate an estimated $600,000 in annual energy savings.

Position these facilities to achieve near-zero operational emissions as Rochester Public Utilities works toward 100% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040.

Serve as a scalable model for other communities seeking innovative clean energy solutions in urban environments.

“This project showcases what can be accomplished through strong partnerships and a shared vision for sustainability,” said Mayor Norton. “By investing in resilient infrastructure today, we are creating long-term environmental and economic benefits for our community.”

The project was made possible through a combination of local and federal funding sources, including abatement bonds, Direct Pay Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, support from the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, and Congressionally Directed Spending through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The 2026 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards were presented during the United States Conference of Mayors’ 94th Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California.

For more information about Rochester’s Thermal Energy Network, visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fec57ff6515d494fbec54f759eb0e017.