NEWS
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For Immediate Release Contact: Nancy Lange, Izaak Walton League Clean Energy Minnesota celebrates new Renewable Energy Standard law Saint Paul, MN – The strongest renewable energy standard in the nation became law today in Minnesota, when Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a requirement that the state’s electric utilities obtain one quarter of their energy from renewable resources, such as wind and solar power, by 2020. The new law was the result of efforts by groups of Clean Energy Minnesota, a coalition of 12 energy and conservation organizations, which seeks to use Minnesotans’ know-how, technological innovation and natural resources to help build a cleaner, healthier, and more energy-efficient future. Twenty one other states have established renewable energy targets but none have set their sights as high. “Minnesota will reach this target by tapping into the renewable energy resources that our state is blessed with,” says Christopher Childs, Conservation Chair, Sierra Club North Star Chapter. “When we invest in wind, solar and biomass energy projects, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars will flow to Minnesota’s economy – not out-of-state energy companies.” The measure was adopted with overwhelming support in the Minnesota House and Senate earlier this month, a demonstration that legislators across the spectrum understand the environmental and economic benefits of a strong renewable energy market. Several groups within Clean Energy Minnesota were instrumental in the weeks of negotiation that led to the final language in the bill. Under the new law, Minnesota will add between 5,000 to 6,000 MW of new renewable energy, of which a large amount is expected to come from turbines located on windy rural lands. The law also establishes a renewable energy trading program for utilities by 2008. “We’ve pulled the first tool out of Minnesota’s global warming reduction tool-kit,” says Shalini Gupta, of the Izaak Walton League of America. “By strengthening our renewable energy standard, we’ll have 16 percent less carbon dioxide emissions in 2025 than we would otherwise.” Clean Energy Minnesota is also working to advance equally important legislation on other global warming solutions, energy efficiency and advanced biofuels this legislative session. “2007 is the year in which we will make real progress on creating a 21st century energy system,” predicts Lola Schoenrich of The Minnesota Project. For more information, go to www.cleanenergyminnesota.org
Clean Energy Minnesota is a collaborative of Center for Energy and Environment; Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota; Clean Up the River Environment; Fresh Energy; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; Izaak Walton League of America–Midwest Office; Land Stewardship Project; Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; Minnesota Project; Sierra Club North Star Chapter; Union of Concerned Scientists; Wind on the Wires and Windustry. ### |
