Allan Campbell, Clean Air & Renewable Energy Committee Co-Chair
I’m not just concerned about climate change because of its nuisance elements that disrupt my personal life— no natural snow for skiing in Minnesota or flooded streets during normal high tides when I vacation at the Jersey shore. While I may experience these minor inconveniences (which are caused by my electricity and gasoline consuming American lifestyle) I know that the suddenness of climate change is having life-altering impacts on people who did not cause it and who are least able to defend against it—subsistence farmers facing drought and famine in Africa, residents of Bangladesh made homeless by coastal flooding, as well as fellow Americans experiencing forest fires enhanced by heat and droughts and hurricanes made deadlier by warming ocean temperatures.
By taking bold action to transform our energy, transportation, and construction systems we can slow global climate change to a manageable pace, while also creating a sustainable domestic economy with millions of new jobs that pay a living wage. Therefore, we are joining the 100 Percent Campaign in calling on Minnesota’s elected officials to commit to pathways to 100% equitable and clean energy for Minnesota.
In the electrical sector this means a commitment to 100% renewable energy sources by 2050. Xcel Energy has already taken a big step in this direction by proposing a goal of 100% carbon free electricity 2050. The state should respond by making 100% clean energy a standard for Xcel and all electric utilities while ensuring new investments in clean energy create equitable access to clean energy, family-sustaining jobs and economic opportunities, including promoting training in the related jobs of the future with emphasis on communities of color and residents of areas that face job losses due to the transition away from fossil fuels. Google’s proposed $600 million wind-powered data center with 50 full-time high-paying jobs in Becker, MN, where Xcel is phasing out coal power plants, demonstrates the potential to transition from fossil-fuel dependent jobs to jobs based on 21st Century technology. And the statewide transition to renewables will bring about cost savings as well as jobs as wind and solar energy costs decline with technological advances and economies of scale. We must transition to renewable energy and halt new investments in fracked gas.
In the transportation sector, which now generates more greenhouse gas (GHG) than the electric sector, the state must provide incentives to a rapid transition from fossil fuel to electric vehicles (EVs), through working with our electric utilities to ensure that EV charging stations are deployed throughout the state’s highway network. The Public Utilities Commission could take a big step forward by approving Xcel Energy’s proposal for a $25 million pilot program to build out a network of EV charging stations throughout the state, encouraging motorists to switch to EVs and making it feasible for cities and car-sharing companies to electrify their fleets.
Buildings must be another major focus area for GHG reduction. The construction, heating and cooling of homes, stores and factories is the third major source of GHGs. Many low-income Minnesotans see a big chunk of their paychecks go to heat and cool poorly insulated homes or apartments. New construction should be required to meet state-of-the-art standards for efficiency, while homeowners need programs for efficiency improvements to be paid for by cost savings in electric bills.
We must take bold action now to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Join Sierra Club in calling on our state leaders to support a path to 100% clean & equitable energy.