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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL)

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LETTER: We can combat climate change together

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

To the editor:

On Sept. 20 hundreds of Minnesota students kicked off Climate Week by participating in the worldwide Youth Climate Strike. My House DFL colleagues and I are standing in solidarity with the youth who have been vocal and are demanding change from policymakers to protect our precious environment and natural resources for generations to come.

Last session, the House took significant steps to prevent further consequences of climate change and build a clean energy economy. It set Minnesota on a path to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050, while ensuring that electricity was affordable and reliable. We worked for the creation of a Solar for Schools program that would save school districts money. Additionally, our clean energy plan would have shaped policies in our budget to accelerate the creation of clean energy jobs, reduce transportation emissions and support more efficient buildings and community solar gardens. Unfortunately, none of these efforts was supported by the Minnesota Senate.

Despite this challenge under a divided Legislature, the House has formed a new Climate Action Caucus. All legislators from all backgrounds are invited to join. This dedicated group, which I’m proud to be a part of, will work together and with Minnesotans on a comprehensive plan to fight climate change and create a future in which we all thrive. These include strategies we’ll examine in greater detail in advance of the 2020 session.

If you have questions, please contact me at the Capitol at 651-296-5510.

Rep. Connie Bernardy

New Brighton

Connie Bernardy, DFL, represents District 41A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.