For more information contact:
Dave Foster, Blue Green Alliance, 612-419-9101
Joshua Davis, Sierra Club, 612-659-9124
Blue Green Alliance applauds Governor's and Legislature's
first step against global warming
Minnesota leads nation in commitment to renewable energy
efficiency, pollution standards, and biofuels are next
Minneapolis, MN — On February 22 Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Renewable Energy Standard, the first of at least four bills from the Minnesota Legislature that will make Minnesota the nation's leader in transforming our economy to fight global warming. The Sierra Club and United Steelworkers both supported the bill, and are pushing for the next steps with their Blue Green Alliance.
"Minnesota is showing the world how to fight global warming and now we have the world's attention," said David Foster, executive director of the Blue Green Alliance. "This is a great first step, and now we have to follow through with the rest of the solution."
The renewable energy standard requires Xcel Energy to make 30% of its electricity from clean renewable sources by 2020, and other utilities to produce 25% by 2025. Testimony indicated it will provide a $7 billion boost to the economy, requiring construction of nearly 3000 wind turbines as well as other facilities that burn biomass for electricity.
This first step only applies to electrical utilities, which account for just 28% of the state's global warming pollution. Three other bills being developed in the Legislature would help Minnesota lead the nation in energy efficiency, developing energy from cellulosic biofuels, and in reducing carbon dioxide pollution. Along with the renewable energy standard, they fill out the agenda of the coalition called Clean Energy Minnesota, of which Sierra Club is part. Together they would create demand for a large pool of skilled labor to transform the state's economy.
"What a thrill to have Minnesota leading America on this issue," said Joshua Davis, Partnerships Organizer for Sierra Club. "We owe it to future generations to do this right. We need this package of solutions in order to solve the problem."
Intensifying public concern about global warming is spurring people to take action locally. The Sierra Club's Cool Cities campaign is organizing communities to convince their mayors to sign the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, which sets goals for reducing global warming pollution to the levels set by the Kyoto Protocol. Next week the Blue Green Alliance is holding a public forum where the mayors of at least five Iron Range cities will sign the agreement.
The Blue Green Alliance is working with the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis on the Twin Cities Green Manufacturing Initiative. That effort is bringing together advocates, economic development agencies, and representatives of business to identify opportunities for sustainable economic development. The Alliance will pursue a similar strategy on the Iron Range. "Now it is important that Minnesota capture the economic benefits of a transition to a clean energy economy by recruiting the manufacturers and installers of renewable equipment to make our state the national leader in green manufacturing," said Foster.
Minnesota's leadership may encourage action at the national level. Congress is certain to take up legislation for a national renewable energy goal and a goal for reducing global warming pollution. The Udall-Platts RES bill, HR969, sets a target of 20% by 2020. The Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S.309) requires an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.