Dear neighbors,
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released a new budget forecast yesterday. The agency is projecting a $7.7 billion positive balance for the current two-year budget cycle.
This is good news for Minnesota. It suggests our economy is recovering and we have the resources to help people who are struggling. With many Minnesotans still facing challenges and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to invest in education, health care, and other things that make a difference in peoples’ lives. I’ll fight for these critical investments next session.
Using Renewable Energy at Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Last week, MinnPost published an article I wrote about using renewable energy at wastewater treatment facilities, a way to address the climate crisis that often gets overlooked. Wastewater facilities often have flat roofs and are located on large tracts of land, so it’s relatively easy to install wind and solar energy systems. Employing renewable energy would also reduce the cost of operating these facilities. Since a lot of our wastewater infrastructure needs to be updated in the next 20 years, Minnesota has an opportunity to take advantage of this.
This year, legislators voted to invest a little over $1 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in renewable energy projects at wastewater treatment facilities. We should build on this and require the use of renewable energy when the state provides funding for wastewater infrastructure improvements. Climate change is a threat to us all, and this practical step can help Minnesota tackle it.
Connecting and Learning with Fellow Legislators
I spent part of last week at a national conference that was organized by the Council of State Governments (CSG). State legislators and leaders from across the country met in Santa Fe, New Mexico to discuss emerging issues and impactful policies with one another. I served on the Shared State Legislation Committee which was in session for over five hours on Friday. We identified and shared innovative legislation on a variety of topics. It was a good experience, and I’m excited to bring what I learned back to Minnesota.
Please reach out if you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share. You can contact me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or call (651) 296-6828.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative