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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
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Hansen leads bi-partisan group urging action on renewable energy
Rep. Rick Hansen is leading a bi-partisan group of state legislators concerned about clean air and water to present legislation promoting renewable energy and preventing climate change. The legislation is part of a coordinated effort with the legislatures of seven other Midwestern states.
“We are working with legislators from other states to promote clean, renewable energy and limit the pollution that causes climate change," said Rep. Hansen. Hansen is a member of the House committee that oversees the environment as well as the one that oversees energy policy. He is also a key Minnesota contact with the National Conference of Environmental Legislators (NCEL).
Legislators from seven Midwestern states held press conferences in each of their capitols to announce regional cooperation through the NCEL, and highlight legislation they will be working on to address energy and climate change issues. The states are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The bipartisan group of legislators includes Republican Rep. Dennis Ozment, chair of the House Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee.
"This is about achieving energy independence," said Hansen. "We will be promoting legislation to get 20% of Minnesota's energy from renewable sources by 2020. New technologies in areas like wind energy will help fuel our state economy. Currently, Minnesota imports more of our power than any other state. Relying on homegrown energy like ethanol and wind keeps more of our energy dollars in Minnesota, creating jobs."
A recent Minnesota Department of Commerce study found that the state has wind energy potential than previously understood.
Other regions of the country are already moving ahead on these issues, according to the NCEL. Governors of Washington, Oregon, and California approved a series of detailed recommendations to reduce global warming pollution that the three states have developed over the past year. The governors of seven Northeastern states signed an agreement to cut their greenhouse gas emissions -- the first mandatory regional pact to address global warming in the United States.
"There is widespread recognition that America's heavy dependence on oil cannot continue," Hansen said. "The good news is that Minnesota has the potential to be on the cutting edge of renewable energy. We can cut down on pollution and grow the economy."
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