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Greenhouse gas emissions analysis

MnDOT is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. There are three tools that can be used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions based on project components.

A timeline of Minnesota's Climate Actions

Timeline of Minnesota's climate action. Click figure to enlarge.

Background

Minnesota has nearly 20 years of bipartisan support for GHG reduction efforts. Starting in 2007, the Next Generation Energy Act created climate goals to reduce GHG emissions from 2005 levels. In 2024, these goals were updated to a goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.

To achieve these goals, current and future projects should be analyzed to determine how much they are reducing emissions from the transportation sector. This will ensure projects are in alignment with the Next generation Energy Act goals.

Three tools have been developed over the last 10 years to assist in this process and continue to be refined as more research occurs to assist in the tools’ accuracy.

Tools

MnDOT suggests using three tools to calculate GHG emissions. These tools can be used at various stages of project development. More information about each tool and links to the tools are found in the sections below.

Carbon Emissions Tool (CET)

In 2023, Minnesota developed the Carbon Reduction Strategy. In coordination with this effort, the Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) was created to calculate the emissions reduction potential of 26 project types that aligned with the Minnesota Carbon Reduction Strategy.

The CET is a downloadable spreadsheet tool. People can navigate to specific project types in the spreadsheet workbook and fill in the required inputs. Default values are provided for project types but can be adjusted if the person has project specific information that is different. Scrolling down on the project type worksheet, people will find the ‘Year 1’ and ‘Cumulative’ emissions reduction from that project component.

Information is automatically populated in the ‘Results’ worksheet where a person can input the project component’s cost and a cost-effectiveness per dollar per metric ton of carbon emissions reduced is calculated.

The CET can be used during project planning, scoping, and design to estimate the emissions reduction potential of various project components. Note, one project may have multiple project components. Therefore, multiple project type worksheets may be completed for one project.

More information can be found on the MnDOT Carbon Reduction Program website.

Uses
  • Carbon Reduction Program funding solicitations
  • Minnesota greenhouse gas emissions impact assessment and offset plan
  • Estimating emissions reduction potential of a project
Outputs
  • Tailpipe emissions in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e)
  • Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reduction

Minnesota Infrastructure Carbon Estimator (MICE)

In 2020, MnDOT began quantifying GHG emissions as part of the environmental review process. The MICE tool was developed to be a Minnesota specific version of the federal Infrastructure Carbon Estimator (ICE) tool. MICE provides the option to analyze build and no-build project alternatives and has inputs that are Minnesota-specific for mitigation, lighting, lane width and other project components.

The currently released version of MICE is version 2.1.  MnDOT is currently undergoing the process of updating MICE 2.1 to MICE 3.0.  

If you have any questions or issues related to MICE Tool, please contact MnDOT Greenhouse Gas Specialist, Daniel Saunders, or MnDOT Modeling and Testing Unit Chief, Peter Wasko.

More information about MICE can be found on the MnDOT Transportation Project Development Process website.

Uses
  • Inform planning and pre-engineering analysis when detailed project specifications are not available (e.g., construction material quantities)
  • Estimate energy/GHGs from on-road vehicle travel
  • Provide a “footprint” analysis of individual facilities or transportation networks
  • Evaluate strategies to reduce energy and GHGs from construction and maintenance as a starting point for more detailed analysis
Outputs
  • Project construction area analysis results in units of MTCO2e or mmBTU exhausted
  • Project vehicle operations area analysis results in units of MTCO2e or mmBTU exhausted
  • Project area maintenance emissions for a selected project lifetime

Federal Highway Administration’s Infrastructure Carbon Estimator (ICE)

The ICE version 2.2.8 is a planning and pre-engineering analysis tool. It provides lifecycle estimates of energy and GHG emissions based on national emission and energy use factors for materials and construction activities.

The ICE tool was updated by ICF International as part of a Transportation Pooled Fund TPF-5(362) with departments of transportation from Minnesota (lead), California, Colorado, Iowa, New York, Texas and Washington State.

It can be used to address these types of questions:    

  • Are there alternative plans or projects that would result in fewer construction emissions?
  • What is the emissions payback period for a transportation construction project that is intended to reduce operational emissions?
  • What is the total energy and emissions impact of maintaining the current regional transportation system?
  • What types of strategies can be used to reduce GHG emissions from building and maintaining transportation facilities?

The tool is based on a nationwide database of construction bid documents, data collected from State DOTs and consultation with transportation engineers and lifecycle analysis experts.

Uses
  • Inform planning and pre-engineering analysis when detailed project specifications are not available (e.g., construction material quantities)
  • Estimate energy/GHGs from on-road vehicle travel
  • Provide a “footprint” analysis of individual facilities or transportation networks
  • Evaluate strategies to reduce energy and GHGs from construction and maintenance as a starting point for more detailed analysis
Outputs
  • Project construction area analysis results in units of MTCO2e or mmBTU exhausted
  • Project area vehicle operations analysis results in units of MTCO2e or mmBTU exhausted
  • Project area operations and maintenance emissions analysis for a selected project lifetime, including road rehabilitation projects