Read Ellen Anderson and Barb Freese's testimonies in support of the 100% Bill

MCEA Climate Director, Ellen Anderson, Oral testimony for Senate 100% Bill 

Thank you Chair Frentz for the opportunity to make comments. 

I am here on behalf of MCEA and our many supporters across Minnesota. 

I served in the Senate for 18 years, and passed many of our clean energy laws—and the debate around this bill reminds me of where we have come from and where we are going. 

When we proposed the first renewable energy standard in 2001, energy engineers testified that the electric grid could only handle up to 1-2% renewable energy. We gradually passed legislation for 1%; then 7% renewable energy, but we were always told it wasn’t technically possible or affordable to do more renewables. To their credit, the utilities complied—and the sky didn’t fall & the grid didn’t crash.. 

Finally in 2007, we passed the 25% by 2025 Renewable Energy Standard with a nearly unanimous, bipartisan vote. 

The result was that renewable energy saved billions of dollars for Minnesotans—not to mention environmental and health savings. And we met the target 7 years ahead of schedule. There were off-ramps in that law, like there are in this bill, and no utility ever used them. In fact, utilities, grid operators, and renewable energy producers have become experts in integrating renewable energy into the grid, maintaining reliability, and cutting costs. And the electricity sector has cut emissions significantly, more than any other sector. 

We also learned that policies that set clear, reasonable stepped targets make it possible for utilities and others to plan and adapt to the future. 

You may hear that we are going too fast, when in fact we are moving far too slowly to meet the climate imperative. Minnesota citizens want action now towards a clean, carbon free future to protect our land, air, and water and our next generations. And we must especially protect communities that bear the brunt of fossil fuel pollution. 

We have the know-how. And we have proven that we can achieve powerful and ambitious goals and continue to lead the Midwest to a clean energy future for all. 

We ask you to vote yes on Senate File 4.

MCEA Climate Staff Lawyer, Barbara Freese, Oral testimony for the House 100% Bill 

My name is Barbara Freese. I’m an attorney with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy’s climate program. On behalf of MCEA and all of MCEA’s supporters across the state, I want to express our strong support for the 100% bill.  

Building a carbon-free power grid by 2040—if not sooner—is crucial to reaching net zero economy-wide by 2050. And reaching net zero by 2050 is crucial to combating the climate crisis.  

However, this urgent need is not yet reflected in any of the long-term resource plans that Minnesota utilities submit to the Public Utility Commission. I know this because MCEA has been deeply involved for many years in analyzing those plans and urging a more aggressive transition to clean energy.  

And while Minnesota utilities have indeed reduced their emissions—thanks in part to the renewable energy standard lawmakers passed years ago—their current plans simply do not reflect the accelerated pace of carbon reductions we know we need.

The 100% bill will ensure that this acceleration actually occurs, and ensure that utilities will seriously plan now to reach 100% clean energy well before 2050.  

In closing, let me just add that this bill will not only deliver dramatic cuts in our greenhouse gasses, but it will also deliver major health benefits by reducing other air pollutants. Especially in those communities that currently bear the brunt of fossil fuel pollution. 

So we urge you to vote yes on House File 7.