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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
With gas prices inching toward $3-a-gallon and dire warnings about the cost of home heating fuels, most Minnesotans understand how valuable it would be for the state to wean itself off of its dependence on outside sources of energy. Nobody likes paying high prices for gasoline or sources of energy. It would take a bit of the edge off, however, if you knew the profits were staying and working in Minnesota.
The thing is, we're closer to that goal than many of realize. New emerging technologies, many of which would utilize products and resources grown here in Minnesota, offer the potential to provide our state with as much as 95 percent of our energy needs by the year 2020. They would also do it in way that would allow Minnesota’s economy to remain competitive with the rest of the world.
In order to reach that goal, we need to act now. Although the high price of gasoline and home heating fuel is wreaking havoc on the family budget – not to mention the budgets of businesses, schools and local government – they also present us with a unique opportunity to nurture these emerging technologies and build an infrastructure that supports their use.
Ethanol is a good example of what can be done. Ten years ago, we had the foresight to invest in ethanol production in this state. As a result, Minnesota is a national leader in both the use and production of this homegrown energy source.
Last week, we took our first steps toward establishing Minnesota as a leader in the production and use of biodiesel with the enactment of the state's biodiesel mandate, which will require diesel fuel sold in the state to be blended with 2 percent biodiesel. That means an estimated 50,000 diesel cars and light trucks in the state, as well thousands more heavy-duty trucks, buses, boats and construction equipment, will be partly fueled by soybeans and other homegrown products under the first law of its kind in the nation.
If the ethanol and biodiesel have shown us anything, it's that these kinds of alternative sources of energy need to be encouraged and nurtured. Although Minnesota has some natural advantages when it comes to the use and production of alternative fuels – a favorable climate, significant soil and water resources, a strong agricultural and transportation infrastructure and a skilled and educated workforce – Minnesota is a leader in these industries because of the past foresight of state leaders.
We need to renew that commitment today. Recently, there have been efforts at the legislature to set a renewable energy standard of 20% by the year 2020, a goal that is more easily achievable than many realize. We have options. In addition to E-85 and biodiesel, there's methane-from-waste conversion, biomass fuels and solar and wind power. All of these offer legitimate and economical alternatives to petroleum.
They also enjoy the support of the public. A recent state poll showed that close to 80% of the public support expanded development and use of renewable energy sources, with no difference in opinion between parties, level of education or where they live in the state.
Minnesotans support these alternatives because they're tired of being at the end of the energy pipeline. They want to lead. If we begin today, we can put Minnesota on the path to energy independence so future generations won’t have to lurch from energy crisis to energy crisis as we have been doing for the past 20 years.
News Items
- STATE REP. PATTI FRITZ PARTICIPATES IN START OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:32PM)
- Rep. Fritz: Homeowners, Farmers Need Property Tax Relief - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- Rep. Fritz: Let’s Vote on a Bonding Bill that Benefits All - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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