Author Archives: Angie Mandle

Confronting Climate Change

University of Minnesota Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Ned Mohan presented a two part series on confronting the seriousness of climate change and energy from renewables like wind and solar. Energy conservation was also discussed.

His presentation is an accurate and real depiction of how climate change is right now impacting families, communities and invaluable landscapes across the world. He also discusses the cause of climate change and solutions.

 

Below are a few visuals from his presentation. Click here to see the full presentation.

Clean Energy in our Community

Winning awards and making a difference for generations to come… How Liberty Apartments and Townhomes and Hilton Garden Inn are Leading the charge in clean living.

How would you like to live in a cutting edge community development that not only cuts your cost of living, but makes a real difference to the future of our planet? The Liberty Apartments and Townhomes in Golden Valley is building a new template for multi-residential housing. They are creating a view into a better future by integrating sustainable solar energy into their new apartment complex project. The complex will consist of 55 townhomes, 200 apartments units and a community clubhouse equipped with pool that boasts 1,448 Solar Panels alone. 

One of many benefits of committing the project as a sustainable solar community from inception, is the labor and installation costs are greatly reduced versus trying to retroactively adapt to clean energy years later. Residents of the apartment complex will also see the benefits from day one, consuming clean energy and offsetting 5,325 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over 25 years. They can also track the amount of electricity they are generating by smartphone app or online.

The development of Liberty Apartments and Townhomes will create jobs and opportunity for local companies. Twelve local design and installation jobs, will be created and multiple local companies such as Werner Electric will be part of the project. The solar arrays, consisting of 900 PV panes and 280,000 watts of energy will be designed and constructed by TruNorth and connected to Xcel Energy distribution system.

This project stands as an example of what can be accomplished in our communities using solar integration. The excitement for the project is growing. It won the 2018 Environmental Initiative award and is creating buzz within the development community as a leader in what can be done. Through partnership (more than nine companies!) they are showing the world what can be accomplished with solar. Learn more at http://www.TruNorthSolar.com or visit www.LiveAtTheLiberty.com for more information.

Another local business getting props for sustainability and clean energy initiatives is Hilton Garden Inn in Maple Grove. They ranked the top in efficiency out of 27 hotels in their management group here in the Midwest. What makes this accomplishment so noteworthy is that they were able to achieve an 80 on Energy Star portfolio manager, not by new expensive technology, but by high staff engagement.

While guests will notice some LED lighting, they may not notice the due diligence of the staff behind the scenes. Efforts are made by cleaning, maintenance and kitchen staff to adjust thermostats, shut off lights, close windows and blinds, perform regular equipment repairs and shutt of exhaust hoods between breakfast and dinner service. These small but impactful efforts add up and make a huge difference in energy and cost savings.

Hilton Garden Inn is able to accomplish this through teamwork and a strong sense to do the “right thing” by the entire team, starting at the top. Team members have a say in the projects they take on, and management supports them by providing the tools to be successful and finally the results of their efforts. They use a Green Scorecard where they track more than 150 conservation items. A Green Committee with representatives for each hotel in the group as well as a Green Newsletter  are also used to initiate and promote new ideas.

What would our communities look like if all businesses had such insight, vision and the drive to do what is best for its customers and communities? Examples such as these allow us to visualize what a better future could look like. With such successes as Hilton Garden Inn in Maple Grove and Liberty Apartments and Townhomes in Maple Grove hopefully other businesses and future developments will hop on the clean energy and sustainability band wagon.

Three Minnesota Futures: A Future to Fear, A Future to Prepare For, and A Future to Fight For

On Thursday, July 19th Northwest Metro Climate Action was privileged to host Sam Potter, Climate Scientist with a doctorate in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from Princeton University to speak at the Maple Grove Library. His presentation “Three Minnesota Futures: A Future to Fear, A Future to Prepare For, and A Future to Fight For” provided plentiful insight and information on the causes and current impacts of climate change. He also spoke about the possible future impacts depending on the decisions and changes we make regarding burning of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.

What makes Minnesota, Minnesota to you?

Sam started with this simple question that sparked images of snowy days and sun sparkle off summer lakes. Or fresh morning snow and hot chocolate on bitter cold days. Or what about the smell of pines and blooming spring flowers? We all have our own feel of Minnesota that we hold in our hearts and consider with pride.

How will climate change impact our great state, then? First, we need to understand what causes climate change. In simplified terms, the sun heats the earth, including land, water, people, etc. The earth in turn emits energy or radiation back into the air. Some of this radiation escapes, but much of it stays. Increased CO2 levels hold more of the radiation in the atmosphere, which in turn causes global warming.

The below chart shows the peaks and valleys of CO2 density in the atmosphere for the last thousands of years. The 0 on the horizontal axis represents current time period, to which you can see an unprecedented spike of CO2 parts per million of 408.32.

Heat on the earth is absorbed in several ways. The first way is by the ocean which absorbs about 90% of it. The remaining 10% of heat is absorbed in the melting ice caps, land with some run off into the atmosphere. The increased heat and therefore increased temperatures of ocean, icecaps and land has impacts such as rising sea levels, killing of coral reefs and other ocean ecosystems, melting permafrost and disrupted farming practices.

Climate scientists use complex models that have been proven out to predict what our world will look like in the future including rainfall, drought, temperatures, sea levels and weather changes. Right now climate scientists have predicted three futures; the future to fight for, the future to plan for and the future to fear.  Of course, which future we end up with depends on how much we reduce our carbon output now and in the very near future.

Global warming is more focused on higher latitudes. This means Minnesota is one of the fastest warming states. Most of us don’t need to see the chart below to know our springs and winters have gotten warmer. Already our Minnesota winters have gotten an average of 4-5 degrees F warmer, while spring has gotten 2-3 degrees warmer. In the

In the next 50 years we may lose 30 additional days below freezing and gain 30 days above 90 degrees. Not only will this significantly change Minnesota’s climate but also where and how we grow food, our eco systems and how we live.

The greatest impact of this heat will be on water. As the atmosphere heats up, its demand for water increases, sucking more and more from the earth. And while flood-causing rains will increase, the number of days with light and moderate rain will decrease and days without rain will increase. Droughts will be widespread and common; and those countries or states already water strained will struggle to find relief.

Much of this information we have heard before. This is why Minnesota and the rest of the world is working to mitigate the impacts of climate change. But is it enough? Sam spoke to the Paris Agreement and Minnesota’s own energy goals. No, they are not enough, was his definitive answer.

We have a lot of work to do and we need to start now. Our CO2 reductions need to go beyond the goals we have set for ourselves. But how we do this?

In Sam’s presentation he discusses the importance of meaningful action. Meaningful action recognizes that many of the tools needed for a fossil-fuel free future are already here, but renewable energy, non-car infrastructure, energy efficient buildings, robust local food economies, etc. won’t magically appear on their own. Collectively, people need to demand them (policy changes), while also reducing overconsumption and waste (societal changes).

Meaningful action also recognizes that nothing will magically save us. The only currently viable CO2 removal methods are soil carbon enhancement and re-planting forests, but they at best remove a fraction of the CO2 put into the atmosphere by fossil fuel burning. And finally, meaningful action confronts the past honestly and does not leave anyone behind.

Northwest Metro Climate and many other environmental organizations we partner with are working hard to promote the kind of meaningful action Sam talks about. Whether it be calling your legislatures and demanding they take action, or ensuring our communities are educated and voting on climate, there is no shortage of work to be done. The good news is that this means there are also plenty of ways to get involved.

To learn more contact Northwest Metro Climate Action  by emailing Info@nwmetroclimateaction.org to get on our email list to find out more about how you get involved or join us at any of our upcoming events.

To see Sam Potter’s full presentation Click here to see Sam Potter’s full presentation or visit his site here.

Mortenson Talks Battery Storage

On Wednesday, February 21st Nothwest Metro Climate Action welcomed Brent Bergland, Gen. Manager for Energy Storage at Mortenson Construction to discuss the future of large capacity battery storage for renewable energy. Brett talked to the audience about the wide range of energy problems that battery storage solves, market challenges and the future of battery storage.

Mortenson plays a big role in the market, and while they are not the largest company they are certainly one of the most innovative and passionate. Their work in engineering, construction and integration of energy storage systems interconnected to local energy grids and behind-the-meter commercial applications is nationally recognized. Currently, lithium ion batteries dominate the large capacity market and is where Mortenson mostly focuses. 

At a high level, battery storage benefits consumers, corporations, developers and utilities. They make the grid more efficient, reliable and resilient as well as lower costs.

Battery Storage benefits fall into two main categories for the consumer and utilities: avoid costs and generate additional revenue.

One of the great benefits of battery storage is that they can mitigate and eliminate the demand charges for peak need. In the evening as family members return to their houses and begin to use high amounts of energy, the solar energy stored from the daytime or wind during the night can be utilized.

Battery storage can also enhance operational performance. If there are issues with the grid or main stream energy disruptions, batteries can step in and help save potentially lost business and/or productivity.

Generation facilities can also improve real time performance with battery storage. If for example, a storm rolls over a facility during the day, battery stored energy can kick in and help. It can also provide power quality services for the grid as well as pair up with other forms of generation to make the grid more flexible.

This all sounds pretty great, right? So why are we not seeing more of it? The main reason is that energy policy and rules are antiquated, especially in Minnesota. This makes it difficult for companies and utilities to invest more. One reason for this is that the fast changing technology and demand make getting up to date information into the rule makers hands difficult.  But even before the information must come the thirst for it. Legislatures must be open-minded and want to understand this new technology and the great benefit it has to their constituents and the state.

Another reason is that the use of battery storage for companies and developments takes a lot of data that is currently not being consistently captured and analyzed. Mortenson relies heavily on data gathering companies, one being MN based OATI, to help gather energy data for their projects.

Even though all market outlook projections look good, it is only fair to note the few downsides of battery storage. Lithium batteries main component is cobalt, which is mined in Congo. The instability of this country can cause large swings in pricing. There are also environmental and human rights concerns with this mining as well.

The market has also not totally figured out how to recycle batteries in a safe and environmentally friendly way. That being said, companies are popping up with innovative ways to reuse the batteries and as the market continues to expand, the expectation is so will supporting markets such as these.

Brett did a great job of making this very complicated subject consumable. One of Brett’s focuses with Mortenson is on battery storage education for the general public, governing bodies and legislatures. As the market of battery storage continues to grow all the while creating jobs and dropping energy prices, you can bet Minnesota’s own Mortenson will remain on the front lines.

Great River Energy and Renewable Energy

On Tuesday, January 9th Zac Ruzycki of Great River Energy made a presentation  titled “Great River Energy – Leading Cooperatively toward a Cost-Effective and Carbon Constrained Future” to NW Metro Climate Action members and guests. 


Great River Energy is a “generation and transmission” cooperative that  provides electricity to local electric co-ops across Minnesota.  Zac’s presentation led the captivated audience through several topics including changes in the industry, wholesale power markets and MISO as well as the numerous steps GRE has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was a fascinating look into the world of energy and how the markets actually work, and what role renewables play now and in future. 

If you’d like to learn more visit the Great River Energy site, where you will find plenty of the information covered during the presentation.

As mentioned, GRE is involved with several innovative programs to promote energy consumption and renewable energy. Below is more information and helpful links on the great work Great River Energy is doing. 

 …GRE’s “Rәvolt” program which offers 100% wind energy at no extra charge for car charging by electric customers who buy electric cars 

 

…GRE’s headquarters building in Maple Grove is very energy efficient.  It was the first LEED Platinum commercial building in Minnesota

 …GRE’s “Community Storage Initiative”, a program to help homeowners save money and reduce carbon footprint through use of electric water heaters that use cheaper nighttime electricity

…GRE’s partnership in a pilot project to bring electric school buses to Minnesota that will reduce emissions, fuel costs and maintenance costs

…GRE has accelerated the depreciation of its largest coal-fired generating plant so that its members will not be saddled with a “stranded asset” if/when burning coal becomes off-limits 

…GRE appreciates wind energy!  At minute 10:49 of the video linked immediately above, CEO David Saggau says “wind is quickly becoming the new baseload power, and to be viable going forward, all other resources must be flexible enough to be supplement to the wind”. 

NW Metro Climate Action looks forward to a continued partnership with our local leaders in Renewable Energy.

Climate Change Impact to BWCA

On Thursday, November 9th, NW Metro Climate Action group had the priveldge of hosting Dr. Lee Frelich, Director at The University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology, and Minnesota photographer and artist David Luke. They gave an informative and moving presentation on the future of Minnesota’s beloved BWCA boreal forests in relation to climate change. This topic touches the wild hearts of many Minnesotans. The great firs, birches and spruce forests of the BWCA are deeply embedded into the memories, identity and personal experiences of Minnesotans, holding real value in our lives.  

The question that Dr Frelich and David Luke answered is how will climate change impact these forests. While Dr Frelich provided the science, David showed us the vision in pictures of what will become of the BWCA in only a couple short decades.

Minnesota is made of four biomes: coniferous/boreal forest, prairie grasslands, deciduous forest, tallgrass aspen parkland. The boreal forests reach down from Canada and touch the northern part of the state, including the BWCA then stretching down along Lake Superior. The firs, spruce, birch, aspen and pines of the boreal forests thrive in this area due to the cold climate. These trees live in climates with long, severe winters (up to six months with mean temperatures below freezing) and short summers (50 to 100 frost-free days).

Climate change is caused by the dispersment of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Increased density in our atmosphere cause temperatures to increase. With the continued burning of fossil fuels, C02 levels have reached record levels this year of 410 ppm (parts per million), well above the 350 ppm needed to avoid global warming.

By the end of the century, and even if all UN proposals are met, we are still on track to reach 670 ppm, a rise in temperature of 3.7 degrees C. In Minnesota, this means our summers will be on average 13 degrees warmer. Minnesota’s climate will feel like Kansas, and the BWCA’s climate will be equivalent to Omaha.

Never mind all the health, lifestyle and economic impacts this will bring to Minnesota: What does this mean for Minnesota’s BWCA? It means our boreal forests will begin to disappear, replaced by either grasslands or more likely prairie within a couple of decades. Moose will be replaced with deer and Lynx with Bobcats. Much of the northern wildlife that we identify with Minnesota will be gone, including our state bird the Loon.

Other factors that will accelerate the change over from boreal to prairie forest, will be weather factors caused by climate change such as droughts, wildfire, blowdowns and insect infestation. Similar to the blowdown of 1999 that uprooted and snapped trees in 370,000 of the 1 million wilderness acres. One or two of these blowdowns would be enough to wipe out the tall spruce and firs, leaving the underlying new maples to repopulate the area. Increased temperatures would prevent new boreal forest trees from fighting back.

Also, phenological disturbances such as a 70 degree run of weather in March causes enough stress on the boreal forests to kill them, such as we have had in recent years. Perhaps after one year they would recover, but of a run of several years, which is a certainty in climate change, and they will not have the energy for a comeback. The boreal forest would be forced to surrender their ground to the soft prairies and maples.

David Luke provided both beautiful and disturbing before and after photographs of our BWCA forests today and what they will look like in future. Large green spruces, replaced by yellow grasses, trees that reach up into the sky, replaced by low lying shrubs and wide maples. Many of the pictures were taken on a lakes edge, and in the after pictures the firs and pines survive in haunting reflections upon the water.

When the lecture was complete, we were left with a deep sadness and need to grieve for our imminent loss.

The BWCA’s untouched, seemingly endless acreage of spruce, firs and pines are worth protecting for most. While climate change is a fact, the damage it prevails is still in our control. We as MN citizens need to know that we have a voice in protecting our environment and that which we love most about our state.

Please make your voice heard. Call or write your congressman, senator or local paper about this issue.

Go to our Action Center page to find your representatives and find other ways to get involved. 

To see David Luke’s imagery and learn about upcoming showings, visit his website here.

To read Dr. Frelich’s many papers on climate change and forestry, go to his website here.

 

 

 

Climate Change Effects on MN Health

While Climate Change is being debated in Washington, practical agencies are planning for its reality here in Minnesota.

The MN Department of Health has developed a Climate and Health Program as part of a nation-wide effort to anticipate, prepare for and respond to health impacts from climate change. With funding help from Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, they have developed a video along with other resources to train and educate communities and health care professionals on the health risks of climate change.

As most of us know, climate change is the effect of a rise in greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. As the levels of these greenhouse gases rise, they trap more and more heat in our atmosphere causing a greenhouse effect to our planet. Over time, our earth will continue to heat up as we continue to burn fossil fuels.

While everyone has heard of climate change and some of its effects, surprisingly few people take it seriously. Seriously enough anyway to take action or drive a political vote. The reason for this could be that, as according to a recent Yale study, 32% of Minnesotans believe climate change will impact them personally. Most believe the impacts will be on future generations, other countries, or at least not their communities.

This study shows the importance of communicating and educating on climate change, as indeed it has already begun to impact Minnesota and all of our communities. Over the next decades its effects will be not only impossible to ignore, but utterly crucial to prepare for.

Source: Howe et al., 2015

 

 

The material and presentation on the Climate and Health Program website explaining the impacts and what we can do to mitigate and adapt is not only thorough, but easy to read, including charts and graphs that make the current and future impacts of climate change both real and understandable.

After watching the video and browsing the material, here are findings I found to be important and interesting.

My first question, and the question on most Minnesotans mind about climate change is:

How has climate change already impacted Minnesota? In the last 120 years, since temperatures were recorded, MN temperatures have risen. In the first 60 years of this time period, from 1895-1960 they rose an average of .2 degrees F. In the later 60 years from 1961-2016 temps rose an average of .5 degrees F. Expectations are an average temperature increase of 5 percent F by the end of the century. It is also worth noting that over this timeframe 9 of the 10 warmest years occurred in the decade. We also know that winter and night temps are rising faster than summer and day temps. The northern part of the state is also warming faster than the southern part.

source: NOAA, 2017

Even the hardiest of us Minnesotans might be tempted to shrug and think mild winters might not be so bad after all. And that might be true if warmer winters and an overall warmer Minnesota only meant more time at the lakes and not having to haul out the Antarctic cold resistance gear once a year. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The temperatures in Minnesota not only add gumption to the residents, but define our landscape, wildlife and economics. Examples of this are the ice freeze in our lakes, bird migration, insect behavior, growing season, how we spend our time and how we spend and earn our money.

To put this in perspective, we can look at the change in plant hardiness zones within Minnesota. These zones define the type of crops that can be grown in a region. In 1990, MN was mostly zone 3 in the north and zone 4 in the south. In 2015, MN was mostly zone 4, with a small northern section remaining zone 3 and zone 5 creeping up in the south. Over the next decades, we can expect MN to become part of the cotton belt as the corn belt moves further north up into Canada. This will not only effect the farmers, but the use and loss of land as we struggle to maintain our food sources in less fertile and productive soils.

Climate change will also cause changes in precipitation. In the last 120 year period, the first 60 years showed a downward trend of rain, while the last 60 showed an upward trend. The problem with that is most of this rainfall has been from mega rain events. Is the August 2017 flooding in Maple Grove coming to anyone else’s mind (along with the wet basement and bad commute to work the next day?).

Unfortunately, this increased rainfall is not coming widespread across the state. Therefore while some areas are experiencing extreme flooding, others are experiencing extreme drought.

So our climate and weather is changing. How does this impact Minnesotans? As you might have guessed, in many different ways (and none very good). We will see effects to all of our basic needs: shelter, food, water, air quality, economics, all in turn effecting our health.

Extreme heat waves will effect the most vulnerable of the population: elderly, children and those with preexisting health conditions such as heart disease. It will also mean higher air conditioning bills and more burning of fossil fuels.

The continued burning of fossil fuels will increase pollution and decrease our air quality. With extreme weather conditions on the rise from global warming, we can expect more windy days and calm days. Calm days means stagnate air for pollutants to settle over our communities while windy days increase exposure to pollens and allergens.

 

The rise in temperatures will lead to longer allergy season. As a sufferer of seasonal allergies, I am feeling the pain already. And as a parent to an asthmatic child, I have great concern. The combination of more pollutants and longer and more extreme allergy seasons will cause more respiratory issues, cancer, heart disease, asthma, and bronchitis just to name a few.

 

Flooding can cause contamination to our water and food supply, while drought dries it up. Other impacts from flood and drought are increased wildfires, loss of or damage to structures such as homes and cabins, and the inability to commute to work as well as increased stress for those impacted. Extreme weather conditions will also bring threats of power outages, causing further contamination to food and water among other hazards.

 

None of this is good for the environment, people or economics of our beloved state.

And if the news could not get bleaker, we can’t forget about our insecticide friends. Climate change will bring a significantly larger distribution of mosquito and tick populations that spread disease such as Lyme and West Nile.

And hey, there is no such thing as a free lunch, right? Right. From 1980-2019, Minnesota has been involved in 31 billion dollar events, meaning these climate related events have cost more than 1 billion dollars to clean up. As our temperatures increase, so does the paycheck and the risk to our economy to withstand it. What’s the saying, again? The best things in life are free? Well then you can bet the worst things cost a whole lot of money.

Given all of this, there is good news. The good news is that we are not helpless to this outcome. Yes, damage has been done, but further damage can be mitigated through our efforts. As individuals, we can reduce our use of fossil fuels by reducing energy use in our homes, making smart transportation choices, and reusing, recycling and reducing our everyday products. Supporting renewable energy policies, and letting your representatives know you support these policies will have a significant impact. For a more thorough list of how you can help, see our action site.

As the health institutions in our state begin to prepare for climate change, it is important that we as citizens do our part to stay educated and communicate with each other and our leaders on this issue.

To see the full presentation and more information from Department of Health click here.

 

Climate Change, Birds and Commons Park

Birds are important to Minnesotans. They are part of our identity that we proudly carry with us.

Don’t believe me?

How about the Common Loon? We Minnesotans don’t need an interpreter to know It’s lonely call not only represents the sound of Minnesota lakes but actually translates to those exact words- at least we are fairly certain they do. And what of the Bald Eagle that sours proudly over our forests or the mallard duck, a favorite of Minnesota duck hunters?

Birds are so much a part of our state that two sculptures in their honor are now on display at Commons Park in downtown Minneapolis. The sculptures are an important, albeit beautiful reminder of how our most recognizable birds will soon be abandoning us for another state as our climate continues to warm and change our landscape, putting many of our beloved birds at risk.

The article featured in the Star Tribune “Art Installation near U.S. Bank Stadium tells the story of Minnesota’s birds and climate change” offers insight into the sculptures and how they predict when many of Minnesota birds will migrate for good out of state, and what out-of-state birds will be taking their place.

Interested in learning more about how Climate Change effects Minnesota birds? Come listen to Photographer and birder Monica Bryand as she shares photos and stories from the Audubon report “Birds and Climate Change” which reported “nearly half of the bird species in  the continental U.S. and Canada are seriously threatened by 2080, and without action, many are at risk of extinction”. She will also tell about her own project to study the situation of at risk bird species in Minnesota.

This event held on Tuesday, July 11th at 7:00pm at Maple Grove Library is free and open to the public.

 

J. Drake Hamilton talks MN Renewable Energy

 

On Thursday, J Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director for Fresh Energy spoke on  “Minnesota’s Clean Energy Solutions to Climate Change”. She focused on renewable energy and the role it plays in Minnesota Businesses and policies. Attendees left with a sense of hope and energized and primed to help with our state’s next steps to put into place clean energy solutions that benefit our economy. Among them was Jeff Erdmann who is running as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Jason Lewis in the 2018 election. He along with many others came to learn more about the renewable energy solutions for Minnesota.

The first thing we all learned, was that most of what we thought we knew about renewable energy was outdated. The industry is moving so fast and furious that even some statistics from 2016 are outdated. But what hasn’t changed is that Solar and Wind energy is better for the people and planet than coal and natural gas.

The pollution from burning fossils fuels effects all of our health, especially elderly and children. These include increased rates and severity of heart and lung disease, heat related illnesses, allergies, asthma and many others, all of which contribute to the 2.1 billion annual costs Minnesotans pay in annual health and climate change damages. Not only does renewable energy cut these costs, but it also cuts the global security risks by decreasing instability caused by global warming. 

Many of us are aware of the huge benefits of global warming, but there was a lot we learned that we didn’t already know. Such as, did you know that it will take only 3% of Earth’s land area to power humanity in 2030? Or that from 2009 to 2016, solar and wind energy prices fell 85 and 66 percent, respectively. In the Great Plains area wind  power is now around $20 per megawatt hour, which is better than many coal plants. And did you know that 22% of Minnesota is now powered by renewable energy, up from 2% in 2004. That is a 20% increase in 12 years!   

The case for renewable energy is a hard one to ignore; and not only are many Minnesota companies paying attention, but they are embracing it. Mortenson Construction and Blatter Energy are two of those companies. Both based in Minnesota, together they have installed 70% of all solar in North America. Impressive!

But they are not the only ones. Over 700 Minnesota companies help to supply renewable energy. This has created over 15,000 clean energy jobs in Minnesota. Jobs that pay on average $70,000, which is 42% more than national average. Since 2000 clean energy employment has increased by 78% compared to state’s total job growth of 11 percent. Many of these jobs are installers, but growing are the jobs in Marketing, Finance, Sales, Project Management, Engineering, IT and several other professions.  

Much of Minnesota’s success in becoming a top competitor in renewable energy is thanks to the work of Fresh Energy . Before Minnesota became a leader in renewable energy, Fresh Energy asked the legislature to answer one question: Will Minnesota be open for business? The legislature answered yes.

In 2007, Governor Pawlenty signed the Next Generation Energy Act, which effectively doubled the amount of energy saved by Minnesota’s utilities. It also expanded and strengthed Minnesota’s commitment to the development of locally-owned renewable energy projects. The Next Generation Energy sets state wide reduction goals of  30 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050. And in 2017, we are already ahead of schedule. This is why a bipartisan group has submitted  House File 1772 and Senate File 1531 asking for 50% Renewable Standard by 2030.

 But this is not the end; there is still a lot of work to do. Even though the Renewable Energy Revolution is coming fast, it is not fast enough. We each need to do our part to push it along. Find out what you can do to help.

To find out more about J. Drake Hamilton and the work of Fresh Energy click here.

NW Metro at Earth Day Marches

On April 22nd, Earth Day, the Kid’s Climate March along with the Science March ascended upon MN State Capital to protest Climate Change. Among the 10,000 participants were many from the Northwest Metro suburbs. All were there to show support for science and rally against our government’s anti environmental policies.

 

The Kids Climate March started in the brisk morning sunshine in the front of the Science Museum. Kids playfully tried on ferry wings and capes hand painted with messages of love, hope and resistance. Parents huddled around them, taking pictures and joining in their contagious upbeat attitude.

Kids from around the cities then took the stage to sing songs of inspiration and protest, sharing personal stories of Climate Change resistance and accomplishments.

 

 

With an air of empowerment the young advocates then took to the streets. The Science March fell in line in their ranks, accompanying them in their rally chants. Energy was high and moods were upbeat as passerby’s cheered the young and old on alike.

However, the notes of discord were not to be overlooked or ignored. Marchers were not shy about expressing their true feelings about their state representatives views of Climate Change. Eric Paulson, the House Representative for the NW suburbs, took some of the hardest hit.

 

After a day such as this, the power of people coming together for a single important cause can not be overlooked. And after the streets empty, the hope and expectation remains that each take the energy back to their communities and neighborhoods. For those in the Northwest Suburbs, we look forward to continued focus as we together, young and old, embrace and help build the climate movement.