FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2013
CONTACT:
Cathy Kennedy
612.309.3951
cathryn@cathrynkennedy.com
Clean Energy & Jobs Legislation Passes the Minnesota House
Legislation Establishes 40 Percent by 2030 Renewable Electricity Standard,
Solar Energy Standard
“This legislation will provide good jobs and protect Minnesota’s air, land and water for generations to come. We have a responsibility to compete in the marketplace for clean energy and compete for the jobs that come with it. This is a tremendous step toward a clean energy economy in this state.
“Speaker Thissen and Representative Hortman deserve heartfelt thanks for ensuring that clean, renewable energy will be produced in Minnesota. Although there’s more to be done, this legislation will catalyze investment, creates new jobs, and shows that our state is open for renewable energy business.”
The legislation includes the following provisions:
- Increases the state’s existing Renewable Electricity Standard to 40 percent by 2030, up from 25 percent by 2025, for investor-owned utilities.
- Requires investor-owned utilities to provide at least 0.5 percent of its power through solar electricity by the end of 2016; 2 percent by late 2020; and 4 percent by late 2025.
- Requires investor-owned utilities to invest 1-1/3 percent of their annual retail sales in subsidies for homeowners and businesses to install small solar systems.
- Requires the Department of Commerce to calculate a “value of solar,” which would determine how much utilities would pay small producers. The amount would be adjusted annually.
- The bill also would offer incentives to owners of solar equipment made in Minnesota.
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The Minnesota Clean Energy & Jobs campaign mobilizes more than 60 energy, labor, youth, faith, environment, and conservation groups, as well as clean energy businesses to answer Governor Mark Dayton’s call to establish Minnesota’s clean energy future – by advancing clean, renewable sources of energy while creating and supporting good jobs for Minnesotans. For more information: Visit http://www.cleanenergyjobs.mn/