Dear Neighbors,
Over the last several months, we have heard a great deal of talk from Democrats in Congress promoting what they are calling the “Green New Deal”. This proposal is a massive policy package that would remake the U.S. economy costing trillions of dollars. Supporters hope, to eliminate all U.S. carbon emissions (which it won’t).
The Green New Deal framework combines big climate-change-related ideas with a wish list of progressive economic proposals that would impact nearly every American and overhaul the nation’s economy.
The plan is unrealistic and would severely damage America’s economy resulting in unreliable energy production.
Unfortunately, it appears that some of the Green New Deal’s ideas have made their way to Minnesota. Just this week, Governor Tim Walz held a press conference to outline his goal to make Minnesota’s electricity sector 100 percent free of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
The Governor’s green goal will have devastating consequences to Minnesota farms, businesses, and families. The reality is that his plan would result in massive increases in electricity prices for no measurable environmental benefit. Economically, it would drive up the cost of all goods and services exponentially!
In fact, information from a soon-to-be-released study from the Center of the American Experiment found that increasing Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate to 50 percent by 2030 would cost our state $80.1 billion. This enormous cost would increase electricity prices by more than 40 percent and result in higher electricity bills for the average Minnesota household to the tune of $375 per year or more.
In addition to astronomical costs, the Walz plan could have a serious impact on the reliability of our energy grid. During the recent sub-zero cold snap, wind energy only provided 4% of the electricity needed.
Minnesotans consumed a massive amount of energy to heat their homes earlier this year when extreme negative temperatures swept across the region. The vast majority of energy sources used during that time were clean coal, nuclear, and natural gas. These energy sources are time tested and proven to be able to handle such a heavy load.
The Walz plan would shift a lot of our energy to wind and solar. Both of those sources are much more unreliable than coal, nuclear, and natural gas. There is no guarantee that wind and solar would be able to adequately power our electricity grid and heat our homes when the next polar vortex visits our region.
As you can see, the Green New Deal and other plans that would require Minnesota to have 100% renewable energy raise costs for Minnesotans and bring uncertainty to our energy grid. We should look for ways to responsibly pursue efficient and reliable renewable energy but the plans being proposed in Congress and by Governor Walz would have a devastating effect on all citizens in the state of Minnesota. We can do better. We can have reliable efficient energy and a clean environment. Technology has always solved our pollution problems. Researching this topic, you will find many qualified scientists agree that manmade CO2 is not the problem and that there are normal fluctuations in our earth’s atmosphere largely due to the sun’s activity.
That’s all for this week’s update. I urge you to contact me if you have any legislative questions, concerns, or ideas. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4229 or via email at rep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Glenn