Clean energy future

Minnesota gets too much of its energy from dirty, dangerous and outdated forms of energy. Our reliance on these sources endangers public health and the environment, puts our national security at risk, and contributes to our economic problems. To transition to a clean energy economy and bring tens of thousands of new local jobs to our communities, we need to harness Minnesota’s homegrown clean energy resources.

Environment Minnesota supports:

Expanding development of clean, renewable energy development in the state, particularly wind and solar power.

Amending Minnesota’s renewable energy standard to require we get 100 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050.

Building policies that increase access to and availability of solar power for consumers, create solar-installation and maintenance jobs, and promote solar manufacturing in our state.

Promoting electric car manufacturing and other related technologies in our state.

Increasing energy efficiency in homes and buildings across the state.

Environment Minnesota opposes:

Enacting subsidies or policy changes that promote the use of dirty, dangerous, and expensive energy, such as coal, nuclear power and garbage incineration. We support the state’s current moratorium on building new nuclear plants, and oppose efforts to lift it.

Stopping global warming

Global warming poses a huge threat to Minnesota’s environment and our way of life. Scientists are already noting dramatic shifts in our state’s forests, and predict that the Boundary Waters’ ecology could change dramatically in just the next 50 years. If left unchecked, global warming could also mean disastrous effects on our lakes’ water levels, and even more severe droughts and floods than already damage our communities and economies every year.

Environment Minnesota supports:

The newly adopted federal clean cars standard to reduce global warming emissions from tailpipes.

Reducing global warming pollution from transportation fuels, and measures to promote and require the use of cleaner fuels.

Creating policies that would reduce global warming, such as a cap-and-trade program. Minnesota and the nation must reduce global warming pollution at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050, to prevent the worst effects of global warming.

Minnesota's waters and open spaces

Nearly half of Minnesota’s waters are unsafe for fishing and swimming. Each year, facilities in our state dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into our treasured rivers and streams. Big developers threaten our forests and open spaces.

Environment Minnesota supports:

Protecting our limited sources of funding for natural resources, and making sure they are properly used to protect our natural environment for future generations.

Transportation Options

In 2007, 35 percent of Minnesota’s global warming pollution came from the transportation sector.

Environment Minnesota supports:

Developing transportation options to reduce our dependence on oil––expanding public transportation and rail, and making communities more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

Reducing the number of miles we drive, and setting specific goals to reduce transportation-related global warming pollution.