The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators has selected Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester) as the 2021 Minnesota State Lead. This position reflects a continued sense of dedication to Minnesota’s environmental issues and a demonstrated leadership role within the Caucus.

“We all want Minnesota’s environment to be clean and accessible for everyone, and it should be our goal to leave a legacy of clean and preserved lands for future generations to enjoy,” said Senator Senjem. “At the root of this issue is how Minnesota approaches energy. As the Clean Energy First bill’s Chief-author, I have focused on pushing for energy efficiency and moving Minnesota towards greener carbon-free methods. I truly believe that this has been some of my most important work in the Senate. I want to thank the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators for this distinction and look forward to leading on this issue on their national stage.”

Throughout his career as the senior senator from Rochester, Senator Senjem has been a lead voice within the Republican Caucus of the Minnesota Senate, working toward a transition to clean, affordable and reliable energy.  His most recent work involved his authorship of the Clean Energy First bill; legislation which would direct the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to prioritize energy efficiency and carbon-free resources when evaluating utilities’ integrated resource plans while also ensuring reliability, affordability, and local benefits to Minnesota citizens and workers.

As a State NCEL Lead, Senator Senjem will assist in advancing environmental issues in the state and have a prestigious leadership role in the Caucus by coordinating relevant in-state events and introducing colleagues to NCEL.

“State Leads are a vital embodiment of the thriving, diverse NCEL network,” said Jeff Mauk, Executive Director of NCEL. “Led by legislators, this Caucus calls on State Leads to mobilize their commitment to effective environmental policy by engaging their home states, while exchanging knowledge with like-minded legislators across the country.”

Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,000 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both major parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on their environmental priorities.