Absolutely:
http://www.sctimes.com/...
Gov. Mark Dayton challenged energy policy and business leaders Thursday to find a way for Minnesota to eliminate coal from the state's energy production.
Dayton, who has spoken of his aim to eliminate coal before, said it's time to start talking details so that Minnesota can lead the nation.
"Tell us what a timeline would look like, what has to happen for that timeline to be met and what kind of incentives or inducements do we need to provide to make that happen," Dayton told the state's first-ever Clean Energy Economy Summit.
Dayton said converting coal plants to users of natural gas should continue, along with investments in renewable energy, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. - SCTimes, 7/17/14
Here's a little more info:
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/...
Over the last decade, Minnesota's use of coal has been reduced by 33 percent.
The Governor said the state is moving in the right direction with renewable energy now accounting for 20 percent of the state's electricity generation.
Companies such as Minnesota Power are making efforts to reduce coal dependence and using more sustainable energy.
"Back in 2005 we were predominately coal based; about 95 percent of our energy mix was coal. Now since that time we have made significant investments in wind energy," said Amy Rutledge, communications manager for MN Power.
Minnesota Power spokesperson, Amy Rutledge, says the company is on track to using one third renewable energy, one third natural gas, and one third coal. - Northlands News Center, 7/18/14
Now this may sound overly ambitious but it can actually become a reality:
http://www.mprnews.org/...
Eliminating coal would be a tall order. About 46 percent of electricity generated in the state last year came from burning coal.
But the clean energy industry has grown.
Minnesota's clean energy sector now employs more than 14,000 people working for 1,000 different companies, according to a new analysis from a consultant hired by the state.
In preparing its report, Collaborative Economics reviewed five different sectors of the state's economy-- energy efficiency, wind, solar, bioenergy and smart grid technology. The company's full analysis won't be available until September, but it presented preliminary results today at the clean energy summit.
"There has been growth over the past decade, and this is despite a very serious global recession," said John Melville, is president of Collaborative Economics. "Energy efficiency took the biggest hit during the recession, but has now actually rebounded. And actually, the other four sectors, interestingly, held their own."
Melville said energy efficiency accounts for about 60 percent of the 14,000 jobs. Many of the sectors have seen double-digit increases in growth in the past decade and combined have grown faster than Minnesota's overall economy.
Energy policy and business leaders are discussing how to ensure Minnesota continues to be a leader in clean energy.
David Mortenson, president of Mortenson Construction, said his company and others are embracing renewable energy as a cost-competitive solution. He said the cost of wind and solar has dropped while coal and natural gas markets become increasingly volatile. - MPR News, 7/17/14
And Minnesota has been on the right track:
http://www.marketwatch.com/...
Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE, Inc. ALE +1.01% , has reached a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that resolves alleged violations of the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act. The agreement does not include any admission of wrongdoing on the part of the company.
Minnesota Power is one of many utility companies in the U.S. whose investments in electric generation facilities were reviewed as part of the EPA’s Coal-Fired Power Plant Enforcement Initiative that began in 1999. The initiative has resulted in more than 25 related settlements nationwide.
“The company has been in discussions with the EPA since 2008 to settle this matter to avoid costly litigation, in the best interest of our customers and other stakeholders,” said ALLETE Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Deb Amberg. “We are pleased to have reached a settlement that recognizes the significant investments we’ve already made to reduce emissions. It is consistent with our EnergyForward resource strategy to reduce emissions, diversify our energy mix and advance renewable energy.”
Since 2006, the company has invested or will invest more than $600 million to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and particulate matter emissions at its thermal generation facilities. Retrofits to comply with state and federal regulations at its two largest units – Boswell 3 and Boswell 4 – will result in a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions. Many of the emission control measures were implemented during the six year discussions to resolve the Notice of Violation (NOV).
“As a regulated utility providing an essential service, we must always take a long-range planning view to meet our electric customers’ needs in the most cost-competitive and reliable manner,” said Al Rudeck, Minnesota Power Vice President of Strategy and Planning.
As part of its EnergyForward strategy toward achieving a diversified and more flexible energy mix, the company has secured 600 megawatts of new wind capacity, dramatically growing its carbon emission-free renewable portfolio. By the end of 2014, Minnesota Power will be positioned to meet Minnesota’s renewable standard of 25 percent by 2025 -- more than a decade earlier than required by law. - Market Watch, 7/16/14
And businesses are getting on board:
http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/...
Clean energy experts from across the state and nation are gathering today in Minneapolis to discuss strategies to strengthen Minnesota’s clean energy economy and align the state’s economic development policies with growth opportunities in the clean energy industry. Today’s Minnesota Clean Energy Economy Summit is part of a National Governors Association (NGA) initiative exploring policy initiatives to build on Minnesota’s leading clean energy reforms, while growing the state’s economy and creating jobs.
“Real progress has been made in the last decade. Today renewables account for 20 percent of our state’s electricity generation, compared with 5.8 percent in 2000. And in just the last four years, wind energy production in Minnesota has increased by 38 percent.” said Governor Mark Dayton. “So we have made important progress, but we still have a long way to go; and I hope this summit will help our state continue moving in the right direction.”
The overarching goals of today’s Summit are:
• Exploring Strategies to Create Clean Energy Jobs – Exploring strategies to grow jobs, build on Minnesota’s economic competitiveness, and protect the quality of Minnesota’s natural resources and environment.
• Collaborating Across Sectors – Engaging business owners, industry leaders, and policymakers across the clean energy and economic development community.
• Working Together Toward Shared Goals – Hearing directly from clean energy industries in the public, private and non-profit sectors so that Minnesota’s strategies moving forward have the broad support needed to achieve our shared objectives.
“Summit participants will identify key challenges and emerging opportunities to growing a diverse clean energy economy,” said Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “We anticipate broad input from the clean energy industry and support for Minnesota’s position as a job-generating leader in wind energy and green industries.” - Minnesota Farm Guide, 7/17/14
Minnesota is leading the way and Dayton is helping steer it in the right direction in terms of clean energy. Lets be sure to help give Dayton a second term. Click here to donate and get involved with Dayton's re-election campaign:
http://markdayton.org/