Minnesota Governor Announces Clean Energy Initiatives

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently unveiled four energy initiatives to promote clean energy R&D and the use of renewable energy technologies in the state. Through a combination of executive orders and legislative proposals, the programs are intended to push Minnesota towards its goals of having 25 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2025 and reducing the state’s greenhouse emissions 80 percent by 2050. These new initiatives are:

• The Clean Energy Technology Collaborative – Created by Executive Order 08-04, the Collaborative is a 15-member group appointed by the governor that will develop a roadmap identifying the most promising R&D steps Minnesota should take to advance the use of green technologies. Committee members will be comprised of representatives from Minnesota’s universities, business members, and other individuals who have significant knowledge and experience in clean energy R&D.
• The Minnesota Office of Energy Security – Executive Order 08-03 establishes this Office within the state’s Department of Commerce, which will function as the entity within Minnesota state government that coordinates state policy, programs, and information related to clean energy and energy security.
• The Minnesota Local Renewable Energy Initiative – The state would provide financial assistance to individual homes, farms and small businesses to install technologies enabling the utilization of energy from geothermal, solar and wind sources. This initiative will be proposed to the state legislature in its 2008 session.
• The Carbon Market Planning Authority – This Authority will explore the potential for developing a carbon credit market, and research how carbon credits may be sold in future regional, national or global carbon trading programs. The Authority will be housed under the new Office of Energy Security and chaired by the Director of that Office. This initiative will also be proposed to the state legislature.

Gov. Pawlenty also is promoting energy research, efficiency and technology as the current Chair of the National Governors Association and the Co-Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association’s Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Initiative.

 

More information on these initiatives can be found at the governor’s website:

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008626.html