Minnesota is not on track to meet its carbon emission reduction goals set more than a decade ago, but a bill now awaiting a vote in the Minnesota House could potentially help the state get there by setting a timeline for utilities to fully shift to clean energy.
The first piece of climate legislation to see significant movement this session is a bill that would require Minnesota utilities to have 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2040. Utilities would have to reach 80% renewable generation by 2030.
House bill sponsor Rep. Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, told the House Energy and Climate Committee on Wednesday that addressing climate change is of particular concern for Minnesota’s economy and way of life, and that the state needs to lean into carbon-free sources of energy such as wind and solar power.
“The last eight years globally have been the hottest years on record….