) On Tuesday, DFL members of the Minnesota Senate today announced their new statewide Senate DFL Clean Energy and Climate Caucus. The new caucus will develop progressive energy policies and prioritize initiatives they believe will combat the effects of climate change. The caucus includes 29 members of the Senate DFL but notably excludes Sen. Dan Sparks (D-Austin), Sen. David Tomassoni (D-Chisholm), Sen. Kent Eken (D-Twin Valley) and all Republicans.

Following the press conference Senator David Osmek (R-Mound) issued the following statement:

“Today, Senate Democrats followed the lead of Governor Walz by implementing their new climate caucus to focus on radical green new deal policies developed exclusively by Democrat members. Like Walz, their new caucus shows no interest in working across the aisle and sends a clear message that Republicans need not apply.  Democrats are hellbent on tripling the cost of energy in Minnesota with little or no measurable benefits.”

“Instead of continuing to pursue exclusively Democrat solutions, political leadership in Minnesota should seek out diversity as they advocated for in the ‘One Minnesota’ message that Governor Walz ran on in 2018. This means reaching across the aisle and including Republicans, industry experts, and residents who can offer unique perspectives and solutions to the problems that we collaboratively face.”

“As Democrats continue to play their partisan political games, I will continue to focus on developing solutions that we can support. This includes our revised bipartisan Clean Energy First proposal, which will be unveiled soon and discussed at hearings next month. As Chair of the Senate’s Energy and Utilities Committee, I hope Senate Democrats and Governor Walz consider our plan and work collaboratively with us so we can create a Minnesota that we can all be proud of.”

The Senate DFL’s announcement follows Governor Tim Walz’s press conference on December 2nd in which he signed a new executive order establishing the Climate Change Subcabinet and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Climate Change. The Subcabinet, comprised solely of representatives from Walz’s Democrat administration, will work to identify policies and strategies that to enhance the climate resiliency of Minnesota’s natural resources, working lands, and communities. This includes administering controversial policies like Governor Walz’s Clean Cars initiative and expensive plans to get Minnesota to 100% clean energy by 2050.