The regular 2021 Minnesota Legislative Session has adjourned, but they will be going into extra innings with their work unfinished. The good news is, it’s not too late for Senate Republicans to choose people and communities over polluters.
Before Earth Day, the state House of Representatives passed two bills that would set our state on the right path to addressing climate change: the House Climate and Energy Bill and the House Transportation Bill. Now, we must urge our senators to do the same by supporting these bills in the Senate and getting them to the Governor’s desk.
The House Climate and Energy bill includes a commitment to 100% clean energy, furthers our climate goals with the Next Generation Climate Act, supports community solar expansion and solar on schools, removes the HERC garbage burner from the definition of renewable energy, and much more. The House Transportation bill provides people the freedom to drive less by funding transit, walking and biking statewide. It also promotes electric vehicles and prioritizes fixing crumbling roads and bridges instead of expanding highways, which increases traffic and pollution.
In addition, The House Environment and Natural Resources bill includes language from the Frontline Communities Protection Act, led by COPAL (Communities Organizing Latinx Power and Action), which would require agencies issuing permits to look beyond the impacts of the single project to a review of the cumulative impacts of existing pollution sources and the demographics of the area.
Meanwhile over in the Senate, all Senate Republicans voted that climate change is not caused by human activity. That's right: while House Democrats are working on solutions, Senate Republicans are still denying that climate change is even real.
There is one positive step to appreciate from the regular session. The ECO Act -- a common sense update to Minnesota’s energy efficiency policy that will save consumers money and electricity, create and sustain jobs, and help low-income customers -- has been passed in both chambers and sent to the Governor’s desk. We thank all who have worked to move this forward over many years.
To address the climate crisis, we need Minnesota to commit to 100% clean energy and take bold action on climate. So why is this so hard? The Senate is effectively controlled by our opponents like the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Not only has the Chamber managed to block big action on climate, they even had the power to water-down common-sense policies like the ECO Act.
And Senator Bill Ingebritsen hasn’t backed down on his threat of shutting down state parks and the state’s environmental agencies over the Walz Administration’s Clean Cars Standards.
Instead of “or-else” ultimatums, we need bold action on climate this legislative session. Our climate is changing, and it will have enormous impacts on our state and world. We can help to stop the worst impacts by transitioning to clean, renewable energy and investing in electric transportation and public transit.
What’s next?
The legislature will continue its work through June, with detailed budget agreements expected by May 28 and policy language agreed to by June 4. Much hangs in the balance, including $200 million for transportation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and a possible bonding bill.
It’s not too late for Senate Republicans to act! Send a message to your Senator today.