Statewide Solar Energy Standard Will Bring Jobs, Significant Investment to State
[SAINT PAUL, MN] Governor Dayton signed the Omnibus Jobs and Economic Development bill, which included measures to establish a solar energy standard of 1.5 percent by 2020 for investor-owned utilities, with a statewide goal of reaching 10 percent by 2030. The Minnesota Clean Energy & Jobs campaign released the following statement:
“We thank Governor Dayton and the legislature for establishing Minnesota’s first solar energy standard. A solar energy standard – along with measures promoting community solar gardens and making solar energy cheaper and more accessible for consumers – will launch Minnesota further down the road to a clean, renewable energy future. This law ensures that Minnesota will have more than 35 times as much installed solar by 2020 as currently exists, creating good paying, permanent jobs throughout the state.
“However, our work is not done. Increasing the state’s Renewable Electricity Standard is essential to supporting good jobs in this state while ensuring that Minnesota remains competitive in the wind industry. Failing to raise the bar now means that we are losing investment and job opportunities to other states.
“We know that Minnesotans support increased use of wind and solar. Promoting clean, renewable energy, reducing costs and red tape for these industries, and promote energy efficiency will create and maintain family-supporting jobs and ensure cleaner air to breathe, cleaner water to drink, and a healthy great outdoors for the next generation.
“This legislation represents a first step toward achieving that goal.”
###
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/