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Bill would mandate move toward carbon-free electricity by 2050

Minnesota Can’t Wait members Maddy Fernands, from left, Lia Harel and Anna Grace Hottinger testify before the House energy division Feb. 5 in support of a bill that would extend Minnesota’s renewable energy standard. Photo by Andrew VonBank
Minnesota Can’t Wait members Maddy Fernands, from left, Lia Harel and Anna Grace Hottinger testify before the House energy division Feb. 5 in support of a bill that would extend Minnesota’s renewable energy standard. Photo by Andrew VonBank

Since the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act was signed into law, Minnesota has been increasing its use of renewable energy sources for electricity. But a bill heard on an informational basis Tuesday by the House Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division would look further into the future and require that 100 percent of the state’s electricity come from carbon-free sources by 2050.

Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Mpls) sponsors HF700. He introduced it by referencing presentations in prior division hearings by experts in the fields of climatology, forestry, health and agriculture that described changes the state is currently undergoing due to climate change.

But Long was optimistic about the bill’s ambitious goals.

“The 2007 act was passed with a Republican governor and 97 percent of the Legislature in support,” Long said. “We set a goal of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. … But, thanks to advances in clean energy technology, Minnesota met that goal last year, seven years ahead of schedule. Clean energy jobs in Minnesota are growing twice as fast as the economy as a whole. The bad news is that we’re not moving fast enough, and we’re still failing to meet our greenhouse gas targets.”

The bill would call for electric utilities in the state to get 55 percent of their power from carbon-free sources by 2030 and 80 percent by 2035. The state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, would have a higher standard: reaching 55 percent by 2026, 60 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2035.

“One hundred percent is the cheapest long-term option for Minnesota,” Long said. “Wind and solar are both cheaper than natural gas. Solar power is the cheapest form of electricity. Building new solar or wind is cheaper than running an existing coal or natural gas plant. And it has less susceptibility to price swings.

“The crisis is urgent. The intergovernmental panel on climate change has said that we have 12 years to take meaningful action to reduce climate pollution. Limiting warming by even a half degree would have huge benefits. If we invested that money in Minnesota to create energy with our wind and solar resources, we can create 50,000 jobs,” according to a study presented in the hearing.

Between morning and afternoon hearings, the division heard testimony from 48 people, with the vast majority speaking in favor of the bill, blending optimism about its potential effects both environmentally and economically with cautionary tales about the consequences of inaction.

Julia Nerbonne, executive director of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, said, “Look to our north and Ontario is already 99 percent carbon-free.”

While executives in the solar and wind industries spoke of the tremendous growth they’ve experienced in recent years, representatives of conventional utilities voiced objections to the mandates while lauding the overall move toward renewables. Rick Evans, director of regional government affairs for Xcel Energy, referred to the reduction goals as “arbitrarily assigned.”

Dave McNary, assistant director at Hennepin County’s Department of Environmental Services, and Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt both raised issues with the removal of burning solid waste or refuse-derived fuel as falling within the “carbon-free” standard. But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey concluded the testimony by speaking of his city’s moves toward renewable energy, saying, in support of the legislation, “Now is the time. We need bold action.”

Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato) sponsors the companion, SF850, which awaits action by the Senate Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee.

 


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