Policy Initiatives

Problem:

Minnesota’s population is expected to grow by one million people by 2030 and our energy demand and resulting air pollution are expected to increase as well. We urgently need to reduce our reliance on imported dirty energy like oil, gas and coal to ensure our continued economic prosperity, create jobs, and protect our air and water.

Yet Minnesota continues to import virtually all of our electricity fuel from outside of the state, despite having some of the best renewable energy resources in the country. The majority of our energy dollars are stimulating other states’ and nations’ economies rather than ours, resulting in billions of dollars leaving our state each year.

We are only beginning to tap the potential and reap the economic and energy independence benefits of our good solar resource – benefits that could be lost without a commitment to early and sustained development of solar power in the state.

Position:

Minnesotans understand our economy is burdened by our reliance on imported dirty energy and see that this reliance is negatively impacting our state. We understand continuing down such a path is not prudent or wise if we care about our legacy to future generations.

Minnesota has virtually limitless potential to tap the energy of the sun. By adopting solar energy on a broad scale, we can address our biggest energy challenges – our dependence on imported dirty energy and the need to address the pollution it creates – while also boosting our economy.

To create and maintain good jobs right in our backyard and reduce our dependence on imported dirty oil, gas and coal, we must implement policies and initiatives that will help spur manufacturing, development and installation of solar projects in the state. Such policies include the following:

  • A 10 percent Solar Electricity Standard: a requirement that Minnesota produce at least 10 percent of our electricity needs from solar power by the year 2030;
  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificates: a solar energy credit trading mechanism; and
  • A Public Purpose Solar Energy Program: a pricing mechanism to make it easier for state and local governments, tribal governments, schools, and other public entities to develop small-scale solar energy projects on their buildings and facilities.

Download a PDF of the issue brief.

For more information on this issue, contact:

Ken Bradley
Environment Minnesota
651-238-5376
kbradley@environmentminnesota.org

Patience Caso
Minnesota Environmental Partnership
651-290-0154
patiencecaso@MEPartnership.org

Gary Botzek
Minnesota Environmental Partnership
651-283-4511
gary@capitolconnections.com