Hello from the State Capitol,
Today we will be debating the "Blackout Bill.” This legislation will require electric utilities to generate or acquire 100 percent carbon-free energy by the year 2040. This will inevitably lead to rolling blackouts like we’ve seen in California by prematurely shutting down our base load power from fossil fuels.
A report from the Center of the American Experiment (CAE) estimates that the plan to move to 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2040 will cost $313 billion, or nearly $3,900 per family per year.
Extreme policies like this are already causing havoc elsewhere, not just in California. Energy is already over ten times the price in Europe, and some countries have even started to ration electricity. Policies like the Blackout Bill will bring those problems home to Minnesota.
This measure is not the way to ‘green’ our grid. An "all of the above" energy policy can reduce carbon emissions and provide affordable electricity to everyone. Replacing coal plants with natural gas combined with wind turbines provides affordable baseload power and reduces carbon emissions.
We’ve seen the rolling blackouts in California, and it does not have the single degree temperatures we are forecast to see all of next week. If we eliminate all natural gas, as this bill suggests, the next polar vortex will result in thousands of deaths instead of dozens.
Minnesota is already seeing reductions in carbon emissions thanks to natural gas. Let’s also not forget the last time our state passed a renewable energy law, the State of North Dakota sued us and we were forced to pay a settlement.
Energy pricing is the most important issue there is. Expensive energy makes literally everything more costly, from heating your home to the price of a new car. If this bill becomes law, Minnesota families will be paying significantly more for less reliable energy. Family budgets are tight already with rapidly rising inflation. We don't need to make it even harder.
Talk to you soon,
Nolan