Dear neighbors, My colleagues and I are busy preparing for the 2022 legislative session, which is set to begin on Monday, January 31. We started introducing our plans for the year last week. 2022 Climate Action PlanThe first proposal we released was our 2022 Climate Action Plan, a science-based plan to address the climate crisis. It invests a total of $1 billion in more than 30 initiatives to help reduce Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions, create good-paying jobs, and lower energy costs. There are several exciting proposals in this plan. For example, it contains: - $25 million to install solar energy systems on universities, wastewater treatment facilities, airports, and other public infrastructure. Like my Solar on Schools bill that was signed into law last year, this proposal would help more Minnesotans take advantage of energy savings while reducing their climate footprint.
- $150 million to strengthen the Pre-Weatherization and Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps people make their homes more energy efficient. Investing in this program will help Minnesotans save money.
- Funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, the largest source of these emissions in Minnesota. The plan invests in electric buses, electric school buses, charging infrastructure, and rebates for Minnesotans who purchase electric vehicles.
- $30 million to plant five million trees every year for the next four years and $40 million to support a variety of state programs that conserve native grasses. Since plants and trees store carbon, these investments will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while preserving and enhancing Minnesota’s natural resources.
- $25 million to establish an infrastructure adaptation and resilience fund to help local governments strengthen their communities and prepare for impacts of climate change.
A detailed outline of the Climate Action Plan is available here. I’m proud of this plan and looking forward to championing it this session! Free COVID-19 Resources The federal government recently launched a website where people can order free COVID-19 tests. You can request four tests per household, and they will be shipped directly to your home. The federal government is also sending millions of masks to pharmacies and community health centers, which will distribute them for free. The State of Minnesota also began distributing free masks this week. The state’s plan is to provide 2.1 million KN95 masks to schools, local public health agencies, child care centers, and other sites. Minnesotans can visit these sites to pick up free, high-quality masks. Stay in TouchI’d like to thank everyone who attended the virtual town hall that Rep. Ginny Klevorn and I hosted last week. I appreciate the thoughtful questions and feedback you shared during our conversation! If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the town hall here. If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out. You can contact me at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn or call (651) 296-9934. Sincerely, Patty Acomb
State Representative |