Fresh Energy’s work product is smart energy policies that enhance our economies, protect human health and communities, restore our environment, and move us toward energy independence. We are also part of Clean Energy Minnesota, a coalition of allied organizations throwing its weight behind an ambitious legislative agenda.

LIMIT & LOWER GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION
This legislation will authorize a cap and trade system as an essential, cost effective tool to reduce Minnesota’s global warming pollution. Cap and trade is a market-based form of regulation that puts a limit on emissions and lowers that limit over time.

Industries that sell fossil fuels will be required to buy government permits for carbon emissions released when the fuels are burned. The price of the permits will be set by the market, not by government, encouraging industries to find ways to reduce emissions that are cheaper than the cost of buying permits, spurring the development of new efficiencies and “clean tech” industries and boosting the American economy.

CLEANER CARS
The transportation sector is responsible for one-third of the global warming pollution in the United States. Cleaner Cars legislation requires auto manufacturers to lower global warming pollutants from new passenger vehicles 30 percent by 2016. The potential impact is huge; Minnesota would reduce global warming pollution more than 13 million metric tons by 2025, with a net savings of over $260 million.

Automakers can meet the standard with off-the-shelf technology options available today. Expected automobile cost increases for consumers range from $300 to $1,000, with a payback of one to three years.

GROWING BETTER FUELS
This policy provides financial and technical assistance to landowners to produce the next generation of clean fuels: native perennial energy crops and crop mixes for bio-energy production. Reinvest in Minnesota—Clean Energy would propel Minnesota to the front of the nation in smart, ecological, market-friendly bio-fuel production—beyond corn.

TRANSPORTATION CHOICES 2020 — PASSED 2/25/2008
Transportation Choices 2020 is part of a fair and balanced plan for bettering the transportation system, one that will improve both our air quality and our quality of life. It’s an investment package that includes new commuter trains and light rail, and a doubling of transit buses to help people get to the rail lines, more high speed bus corridors serving suburbs, new pedestrian and bicycle projects, and expanded transit in greater Minnesota.

This policy is a far-reaching, multi-part plan to give Minnesotans more choices to get to the places they need to go, while reducing our reliance on foreign oil.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
For too many Minnesotans, cold weather means overwhelming energy bills. Federal and state initiatives help reduce those costs by increasing efficiency and providing funds for a portion of household energy bills, but there isn’t enough help to go around. The state is currently unable to address the energy needs of many low income people.

Fresh Energy seeks an informational hearing to draw attention to the insufficient resources dedicated to low income households and to create a broad-based recognition of the problem and put us on the road to new policy solutions.

Download Fresh Energy's agenda fact sheet.