Dear Friends,
Another busy week at the Minnesota Senate with committee hearings and legislative sessions. I want to keep you updated on some of the latest activities.
This week I presented a couple of bills in committee
Highway 14 and County Road 104 Interchange Project
This accident-prone intersection has been a significant concern for residents, area legislators, and state transportation officials. In 2020, I championed the Capital Investment bill, which included $6 million to build a safer interchange at the intersection of Highway 14 and County Road 104 in Olmsted County. The busy intersection is hazardous due to high traffic volumes, high rates of speed, and challenging sightlines.
This week I presented a bill, S.F. 0317, which makes the language in the 2020 Capital Investment bill more clear to state and local officials. Without that language, the funds circulate through MnDOT versus coming directly to the county. With passing this legislation, county officials will have direction on how state funds are used to design, construct, furnish and equip a new interchange at this dangerous intersection.
I want to thank Olmsted County Engineer, Kaye Bieniek for your assistance in testifying in the Senate Transportation Committee on behalf of this bill.
Clean Energy First Legislation
This week I presented SF 955 in the Senate Energy, Utilities Policy and Finance Committee. This legislation is designed to modernize Minnesota’s energy resources by prioritizing renewable energy.
According to available data, most fossil fuel-powered plants will be retired or replaced in the next two decades. That represents more than 40 percent of Minnesota’s current energy capacity, which means we must plan for our energy future right now. ’Clean Energy First’ is a win-win for Minnesotans. It will mean the power we consume every single day will come from the cleanest available technologies while still prioritizing affordability and reliability – particularly in our harsh climate.
The ‘Clean Energy First’ legislation would direct the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider renewable energy sources when evaluating a utility’s request for additional power generation or a utility’s long-range plan for future energy needs. In making its decision, the PUC would be tasked with determining if the energy is in the public interest by adjudicating whether the energy is adequately reliable and affordable for ratepayers. The legislation would classify nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, carbon sequestration, and municipal solid waste as clean technologies.
Major utilities like Xcel Energy are already heading in clean energy by making long-term plans to phase out coal. This is not another government mandate; instead, this is an all-of-the-above approach that will make Minnesota a leader in the clean energy sector – promising jobs and innovation for decades to come. Technology and innovation will continue to drive our energy sector and will provide a reliable energy grid for all Minnesotans over the long term. This is really the future.
The legislation is scheduled to be considered for inclusion in a larger committee bill.
Zoom Meetings This Week Include:
- Minnesota American Academy of Pediatricians – Rochester Mayo (pictured above)
- Irrigators Association
- Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living (SEMCIL)
- Rochester YMCA
- Renewable Energy Partners
- Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA)
- Clean Water Action Council
- Jeni Brandt, CPR4LIFE
- Southeast Special Education Directors
- Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmologists
- Great River Energy
- Minnesota Power
As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments or concerns at:
(651) 296-3903 St. Paul
(507) 319-7627 cell