ST. PAUL, MN – Today Senate Republicans put forth their A+ Energy Plan as the foundation for reliable, affordable, and “always on” energy planning for the state.
“A reliable, affordable, and always on energy source is one of the most important things we take for granted each day,” said Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton). “Our proposal allows nuclear, renewable gas, and hydroelectric energy to count towards clean energy goals. It utilizes an ‘all of the above’ strategy to achieve an ‘always on’ energy plan.”
The A+ Energy plan would:
- Allow nuclear construction in the state
- Affordable renewable natural gas to continue to reduce emissions
- Always On natural gas and coal for reliability and affordability
- Authorize hydroelectric power to count as a renewable energy
- All-of-the-Above strategy to mix solar, wind, hydroelectric, hydrogen, and biomass with our current energy sources
Since 1994, the state has banned the construction of new nuclear power plants. Despite improvements in technology, Minnesota has blocked additional nuclear as a reliable and low-emission power source. Without nuclear, meeting emissions goals will be extremely difficult and extremely costly to Minnesotans. “Nuclear is a carbon-free, clean-energy source that provides baseload generation and serves as a reliable energy source during extreme conditions,” Mathews said. The A+ Energy Plan would end the ban on nuclear power construction in Minnesota and open a path for this emission-free energy source to power Minnesota homes and businesses.
The A+ Energy Plan also allows coal and natural gas, including renewable natural gas, as a reliable and affordable option for energy companies to use, especially when demand is high. The closure of coal and natural gas plants, even ahead of their useful lifetime, is risky, costly, and wasteful. According to the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO), the 15 states belonging to our grid have an energy shortfall equivalent to powering half of Minnesota homes for one hour. “When we talk about energy being a life and death issue, this is the kind of thing we’re talking about,” Mathews said. “We all share goals of clean, renewable energy, but we cannot risk brownouts or blackouts during a cold snap like we’re facing today. Until new, reliable energy generation is put into place, we must conserve all energy sources we already have available,” Mathews said. Minnesotans have paid billions of dollars through energy rates for the existing coal and natural gas infrastructure, meaning closing the plants ahead of their expected life use is just wasting ratepayer dollars, while inevitably raising energy costs to the same ratepayers.
That state purchases significant energy from Canada in the form of new large hydroelectric, however, it is not counted as renewable energy for our emissions goals. “This is a no-brainer change,” Mathews said. “We’re already using hydroelectric, it is a renewable energy source, and everyone would agree we need to count it towards our goals.” The A+ Energy Plan adopts this simple change and puts Minnesota even closer to meeting its emission goals.
Republicans raised concerns the 2040 standard in the Blackout bill would reduce reliability and affordability by significantly reducing coal and natural gas and increasing solar and wind as primary sources of energy. The Blackout bill does not open up additional nuclear energy and does not count new large hydroelectric as a renewable energy source.
“We are putting forth this plan today because we have a very extreme bill on the floor for a vote,” Mathews continued. “The clean energy bill proposed by Democrats today is a bill for blackouts in Minnesota. Rather than keep our most reliable sources of energy, the bill throws them overboard in favor of unreliable solar and wind energy, and costly battery storage. The Blackout Bill will cost every energy consumer more, it will reduce reliability, and more importantly, it will not move us that much closer to our emissions goals than the A+ Energy Plan will.”
“The Democrats are proposing a clean energy bill that doesn’t factor in nuclear or natural gas—if we’re going to seriously discuss clean energy, we must utilize all available resources,” said Senator Jason Rarick (R-Pine City). “Today’s Blackout Bill fails to tap into our cleanest energy resources, it will cost every consumer more, and it will reduce reliability, leading to potential blackouts across the state. Senate Republicans are putting forward an alternative plan: the A+ Energy Plan that focuses on an all of the above approach to meeting our energy needs. It’s time we address a potential energy crisis, and to do so properly, we must use all of our available resources.”
Senate Republicans plan to offer amendments and have a vigorous debate on the floor about the bill, but without a Democrat willing to vote for an amendment or against the bill, Minnesota is on the fast track to an extreme energy policy that will raise costs, reduce reliability, and is in fact dangerous.
