Lawmakers Announce Bill Aimed to Build Up Minnesota’s Solar Capacity, Create Jobs

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State Sen. Eaton, Rep. Morgan Joined by Labor, Business, and Environmental Leaders to Roll Out Solar Energy Jobs Act

ST. PAUL, MN – State lawmakers rolled out an ambitious plan today designed to grow the solar energy industry in Minnesota and create thousands of good jobs. State Senator Chris Eaton (DFL – Brooklyn Center) and State Representative Will Morgan (DFL – Burnsville) announced the introduction of the Solar Energy Jobs Act at the State Capitol, where they were joined by leaders from the business, labor and environmental communities. The bill will implement a 10 percent Solar Renewable Energy Standard, requiring utilities to meet the standard by 2030.

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Moving Beyond Coal to Solar

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By Isaac Hanson

Many residents of the Minneapolis-St Paul area are aware of the Black Dog Generating Station in Burnsville. The plant also happens to sit along the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

A recent hike along the south side of Black Dog Lake revealed a stunning sunset along with swans, bald eagles and coyote tracks.

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Sierra Club Leaders Act to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline

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On February 13, 48 environmental, civil rights, and community leaders from across the country joined together for a historic display of civil disobedience at the White House where they demanded that President Obama deny the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and address the climate crisis.
Those arrested included Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, Alison Chin, Sierra Club president, and Marty Cobenais, Indigenous Environmental Network Pipeline Organizer and member of the North Star Chapter Executive Committee.

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Governor Dayton on Transit Funding

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By Jada Wollenzien

In his State of the State Address, Governor Dayton briefly mentioned the need for transit funding. Ennumerating the urgent needs across the state, he stated, “and I have not even mentioned tonight, nor does my budget address, the critical need to invest in improving our highways, roads, and bridges statewide; our public transit systems; [and] our aging infrastructure. . . We can choose, as others in our positions have before us, to ignore these growing problems . . or, we can lead. That is what the people of Minnesota elected us to do.”

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Special Delivery: Minnesotans Support Solar

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By Wade Underwood

 

Now that the legislative session is entering its second month, Sierrans are speaking up to support solar energy in Minnesota.  So far, the online effort of our members and supporters has been immense. Minnesota Representatives and Senators are being inundated with emails and petitions to pass a 10 percent solar standard.

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